A total of 380 large buyers, including well-known chain companies from the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil and other countries and regions, have participated in the ongoing 137th Canton Fair.
The third phase of the 137th China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as the Canton Fair, opened in Guangzhou on Thursday, showcasing a wide variety of consumer goods.
Taking place from April 15 to May 5, this edition of the fair is divided into three themed phases - "Advanced Manufacturing," "Quality Home Living," and the current phase, "Better Life," which opened on Thursday, focusing on products closely tied to everyday needs.
Compared with the previous session, the exhibitors participating in this edition show higher quality.
The third phase of the Canton Fair has 24,072 booths for exporters, with the participation of 11,759 exhibitors. Among them, there are 4,400 brand booths, and a total of 849 brand companies selected through strict procedures. More than 1,600 companies participated in the fair for the first time.
Among the participants, more than 2,200 are "little giant" enterprises that use special and sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products or those who have been awarded individual manufacturing champion or named national high-tech enterprise. The number is over 100 higher than that of the previous edition.
137th Canton Fair sees 380 large global buyers
A major port in northern Venezuela came under U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of January 3, which caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, destroyed critical medical supplies in a warehouse, and severely impacted centuries-old cultural heritage sites, according to local residents.
The La Guaira Port, a vital hub for imports that support daily life in the region, was heavily damaged during the attack.
Large quantities of medical supplies stored at the port were destroyed. A historic cultural building dating back for some 300 years was also badly damaged by the bombardment.
Residents living near the port recalled the terrifying scenes as explosions shook nearby neighborhoods.
Humberto Bolivar, who lives in a community separated from the port by only a main road, said the blast waves shattered his home's windows, while stray shrapnel struck the water tank on his roof. According to reports, three missiles were fired at the port that night.
Bolivar said that beyond material losses, he is most concerned about the psychological impact on his children, who remain too frightened to leave their home days after the attack.
"The United States invaded our country. The children were frightened. This is not good for them, because it leaves some children with psychological trauma. They do not want to go to school or leave the house, because they are afraid that something worse might happen. We truly do not want this to happen to our country," he said.
Apart from civilian facilities, local cultural heritage site was also affected.
The La Guaira state government building, a structure with nearly 300 years of history and once served as the site of Venezuela's first national customs office, was struck by the force of the explosions.
Windows of the building were shattered, and furniture scattered across the floor.
"As people of La Guaira, we feel deep pain. Our cultural heritage has been bombed. We are living in constant anxiety and suffering, and life can no longer be the same as it was before," said a local named Henry Cumares.
The U.S. side has claimed the airstrikes targeted warehouses allegedly used to store narcotics. However, locals refuted such accusation.
"According to what Donald Trump said, they bombed this place using the excuse that the warehouses here were used to store drugs at the port. But based on the video released by our governor, these warehouses that were burned contained medicine for kidney patients and foods. Many people depend on these supplies to survive. I think the bombing is extremely despicable," said a local resident named Alejandro Capriles.
US strike hits Venezuelan port, wrecking medical supplies, heritage building
