Innovative products on show at the ongoing 138th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) in south China's Guangdong Province have drawn exhibitors and buyers from all over the world to seek new business opportunities.
The third phase of this edition of the Canton Fair is currently underway in China's southern economic hub from Oct 31 to Nov 4, boasting a record 74,600 booths and over 32,000 exhibitors
With nearly 240,000 overseas buyers having attended the first two phases, the three-stage 138th Canton Fair is expected to surpass the previous one in terms of participation from professional buyers and top-tier purchasing enterprises.
The latest session features a new exhibition area dedicated to intelligent healthcare that highlights advanced medical technologies in six major categories including medical robots, intelligent diagnosis, and health monitoring. Exhibits such as brain-computer interface rehabilitation assistance systems, laparoscopic surgical robots, and AI-powered stair-climbing wheelchairs showcase China's innovative strength in this field.
The intelligent healthcare section has so far attracted over 40,000 visitors from Europe, America, Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and other regions.
"Beyond belief it goes so fast with China. I think China going from more having the same as other or copying, you get a higher level now, so you start to develop and innovate, do progress yourself, so you bring the products to a higher level. I want to work more with China with this kind of stuff,” said Knut Giaever, a purchaser from Norway.
In the exhibition area for sports, travel and recreation products, a newly-developed electric roof tent that can be easily raised and retracted and is fitted with an entertainment console for movies and music has attracted the attention of foreign merchants.
"Camping industry is very popular in the UK, and particularly the roof tents are very popular, they're growing. Very good quality. We're able to communicate really well here," said a British purchaser.
The first two phases of the 138th Canton Fair have set new records in terms of exhibition area, the number of exhibition booths, and the number of participating enterprises, showing the growing influence of the biannual trade fair.
Industry insiders note that from trade booths to smart exhibition halls, from innovative products to green solutions, the Canton Fair is evolving into a bridge connecting the world, demonstrating the increasing resilience of China's foreign trade within the global economic landscape.
Established in 1957, the Canton Fair is held twice a year in spring and autumn. It is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trade events in China, and is seen as a barometer of China's foreign trade.
Innovative products draw overseas buyers to 3rd phase of 138th Canton Fair
