Innovative cooking utensil products are among the most attractive items for international and domestic buyers at the second phase of the ongoing 137th China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, focusing on "quality home life."
This second phase of the fair has dedicated sections for building and decorative materials, home decorations, and gifts, catering to the diverse demands of global buyers in search of high-quality, exquisite products.
Over 167,000 products are on exhibition during this second phase of five days, making it the most extensive collection among the fair's three phases.
"We hope to prioritize the safety of the materials used in every part of the pot, including internal and external coatings. To achieve this, we have made a series of innovations in materials and manufacturing," said Chen Guanhao, an exhibitor.
The number of offline exhibitors in this second phase of the fair reached 10,313, an increase of 273 compared to the previous phase. Many Chinese companies are leveraging the strengths of their products to explore new markets both domestically and internationally.
"We plan to develop more practical cooking utensils better suited for domestic customers. We are confident that our future focus will remain on the domestic market," said Xu Haoming, an exhibitor.
"Based on the feedback from overseas customers who visited our booth this year, they were highly impressed with Chinese products. They have strong confidence, a keen interest in trading with China, and long-term trade prospects. This is what gives our foreign trade enterprises renewed confidence," said Chen Zili, an exhibitor.
The 137th Canton Fair is divided into three phases: the first, running from April 15-19, focuses on advanced manufacturing; the second, from April 23-27, on quality home furnishings; and the third, from May 1-5, on products that promote a better quality of life.
The fair covers an area of 1.55 million square meters, with about 74,000 booths. They include nearly 73,000 for exports and about 1,600 for imports.
Established in 1957, the Canton Fair is held twice a year in Guangzhou. It is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trade events in China and has been hailed as the barometer of China's foreign trade.
Canton Fair's 2nd phase features more innovative home products for buyers
Peace, cooperation and friendship should be the new narrative of the South China Sea, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday.
Wang made the statement at a press conference in Beijing on the sidelines of the ongoing fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's supreme organ of state power.
"The South China Sea is home to the world's busiest, safest and freest shipping lanes. Over the past year, cooperation in the South China Sea has maintained a sound momentum. China had in-depth discussions with Indonesia on joint maritime development. China held bilateral dialogue with Malaysia on maritime issues and carried out cooperation with Vietnam on sustainable fisheries development. Just recently, China Coast Guard successfully rescued over a dozen Filipino crewmen distressed at the South China Sea. All these are ample proof that peace, cooperation and friendship should be the new narrative of the South China Sea. Making waves wins no hearts and fermenting trouble finds no takers," said Wang.
To achieve lasting peace and stability in the South China Sea requires solid institutional support, noted Wang, highlighting that consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), a long-sought framework to manage differences, have now reached a critical juncture.
"To achieve lasting peace and stability in the South China Sea requires solid institutional support. As we continue with the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, consultation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, the COC, as you mentioned, has reached crunch time. All relevant parties look forward to wrapping it up this year. Together with the parties, China has the confidence and the resolve to remove interference, bridge differences, expand common ground and reach an agreement as soon as possible. The COC will provide the golden rules for the parties to effectively manage differences, build trust, and advance cooperation," he said.
The foreign minister called for the Philippines to fulfill its responsibility as this year's ASEAN chair and make positive contributions to regional peace and stability.
"We hope that as this year's ASEAN chair, the Philippines will recognize and fulfill its responsibility, resist the pull of self-interest, and play a positive and constructive role for peace and stability in the region," said Wang.
The fourth session of the 14th NPC opened on Thursday and is scheduled to run till March 12.
Peace, cooperation, friendship should be new narrative of South China Sea: Chinese FM
