The 138th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, widely known as the Canton Fair, opened on Wednesday in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, showcasing the country's advanced manufacturing strength and welcoming a record number of buyers and exhibitors from around the world.
This session of the fair is divided into three phases, each lasting five days. The first phase, from October 15 to 19, focuses on advanced manufacturing, featuring products such as electronic appliances and industrial equipment, and brings together over 5,500 high-quality, specialized export enterprises.
At 09:00 on the opening day, thousands of international buyers poured into the exhibition venue to explore new products, negotiate orders, and keep pace with market trends.
According to the organizer, approximately 247,000 buyers from 218 countries and regions have pre-registered for the fair, a 10 percent increase from the last edition. In particular, participation from the European Union, the United States, and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative has seen notable growth.
A total of 74,600 booths have been set up for some 32,000 companies, with around 3,600 exhibitors participating for the first time. More than 10,000 of the exhibiting companies are national high-tech firms, manufacturing champions in niche markets, or SMEs using specialized and cutting-edge technologies, accounting for 30 percent of the total exhibitors.
The fair has also introduced new themed zones, such as a service robot display area, showcasing robotic innovations including humanoid robots and robot dogs.
One eye-catching highlight in the advanced manufacturing section is the humanoid robot Lingxi X2, developed by Zhiyuan Robotics. The all-white robot attracted buyers with its dance moves and flexible joint performance.
"We can upload a viral dance video from social media, and the robot can quickly learn and replicate it, usually in just one or two tries. Mass production will begin in the fourth quarter of this year, and our target is to deliver between 3,000 and 4,000 units," said Hu Zhuo, regional sales director at AgiBot.
Buyers, especially first-time participants, were impressed by the level of innovation.
"It's very nice. China is a big market. The AI robot is very nice," said a buyer from Morocco.
The fair wowed international visitors with cutting-edge AI technology. In the consumer electronics section, a leading domestic AR glasses company revealed several new models designed for global markets.
"We are the world's first to implement a 'look-to-pay' feature in AI glasses. They are also the lightest on the market. Total orders have exceeded 300,000 units. The domestic price is 3,299 yuan, and overseas it's 600 dollars," said Shao Huaqing, general manager of Hangzhou Lingban Technology's Overseas Division.
Canton Fair draws global buyers, sets participation records
