China's Ministry of Commerce announced at a press conference on Friday that the 138th Canton Fair, set to run in three phases from October 15 to November 4 in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, will feature new initiatives focused on showcasing innovation.
The upcoming China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, will also center on enterprise needs and deal-making, with a record-breaking lineup of over 600 product launch events, a 37 percent increase from the previous session.
According to officials, 63 percent of the new products incorporate innovative technologies, 48 percent achieve functional upgrades, 47 percent highlight green and low-carbon features, and 31 percent use cutting-edge materials. The event aims to reflect the vitality of China's foreign trade innovation.
Thirteen forums will be held during the fair, exploring topics such as trade digitalization, commercial applications of AI, and the silver economy. Over 100 organizations and about 120 speakers from government, business, academia, research, and media will take part.
"We'll see more accurate supply-demand connections. Nine 'Trade Bridge' matchmaking events will focus on high-demand sectors including new energy, home appliances, and building materials. We've collected purchasing lists from buyers early and matched them with exhibitors through multiple rounds," said Zhu Yong, director of China Foreign Trade Center.
The ministry also highlighted the growing global and domestic digital healthcare markets, pointing to high growth potential and emerging opportunities.
For the first time, the fair will feature a Smart Medical Zone with 140 booths and 47 industry-leading enterprises. Exhibits will cover upstream products across the smart healthcare chain, including medical robotics, AI diagnostics, and intelligent care technologies. Organizers hope the fair will help bridge gaps across the entire industry chain, from service providers to end-use applications.
"The Smart Medical Zone is designed to offer immersive, scenario-based demonstrations that allow participants to truly experience the progress of digital and smart medical technologies. We will also host in-person supply-demand matchmaking events to help companies explore international markets," said Wang Zhihua, director-general of the Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce.
138th Canton Fair to spotlight innovation, digital health
The Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said that the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked since Saturday evening and will not reopen until the United States lifts its naval blockade on the waterway.
In a statement carried by its official news outlet Sepah News, the IGRC said that the move came after the United States violated its commitments under the two-week ceasefire, which took effect on April 8, and failed to end its naval blockade against Iranian vessels and ports.
The IRGC Navy called on all vessels and their owners to follow official updates via its channel and VHF Channel 16, the international maritime distress, safety, and calling frequency. The statements by U.S. President Donald Trump hold no credibility in the strait and the Gulf, it added.
The IRGC warned that no vessel should move from its anchorage in the Gulf or the Gulf of Oman, and any approach to the strait would be deemed "cooperation with the enemy" and targeted accordingly.
Tehran's political leadership echoed the IRGC's firm position. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf asserted that the Strait of Hormuz is under Iran's control, revealing that during previous negotiations, Iran had firmly countered U.S. attempts to carry out minesweeping operations, which Tehran viewed as a ceasefire violation.
He said the situation had come close to conflict, but the U.S. had eventually backed off.
Calling the U.S. maritime blockade "reckless and ignorant," Ghalibaf warned that passage through the strait would certainly be restricted if Washington does not lift the blockade.
Underpinning these public announcements, Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Saturday affirmed the country's resolve to exercise control and supervision over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until the war is definitively ended and lasting peace is achieved in the region.
For its part, the United States pressed ahead with its own military measures.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Saturday that the U.S. military is imposing a maritime blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports and nearby coastal areas. Since the blockade began on April 13, 23 ships have complied with U.S. directions to turn around.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military is preparing in the coming days to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing U.S. officials.
The move will enable the U.S. to take control of Iran-linked vessels around the world, including ships carrying Iranian oil that are already sailing outside the Persian Gulf and those carrying arms that could support Tehran, the report said.
Iran's IRGC says Strait of Hormuz blocked, demands end to US naval blockade
