138th Canton Fair to spotlight innovation, digital health

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 operational efficiency of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in south China's Guangdong Province has greatly improved following the launch of a new terminal and a new runway one month ago.

The airport officially put into operation its Terminal 3 and fifth runway on October 30, making it China's first civil airport to operate five commercial runways.

Terminal 3 features a range of self-service facilities, including check-in kiosks, automated baggage drop systems, and smart security screening equipment, which have greatly streamlined passenger processing.

Since its opening, five airlines have shifted their domestic operations to Terminal 3, which now handles an average of 158 flights and about 26,000 passengers daily.

"Compared with Terminal 1, both the number of staffed counters and self-service kiosks of Terminal 3 have increased significantly, greatly reducing the average check-in time for passengers. For domestic direct flights, the entire check-in process can be completed in a minimum of one minute," said Shi Mengyao, a staffer with the ground service department of the Guangdong branch of China Eastern Airlines.

Beyond efficiency improvements, the terminal also includes an observation deck that offers travelers panoramic views of the airfield.

"Since its opening, the observation deck attracts over 3,000 visitors per day on average, with total visits exceeding 100,000 to date," said Luo Li, deputy general manager of a terminal management company at Baiyun International Airport.

The airport's expansion also marks another step toward building a world-class airport cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

"The airport's expansion not only consolidates the Greater Bay Area as an aviation hub connecting China with the world, but also helps lower logistics costs within the area, promote the free flow and efficient allocation of economic resources, and enhances the area's capacity for global resource allocation," said Li Jing, chief planner with the Guangdong Provincial Department of Transport.

New terminal, runway boost operational efficiency of airport in Guangzhou