Global buyers flock to AWE 2026 in Shanghai to hunt for new tech trends

Eager to expand their product portfolios and explore new markets, global buyers flocked to Shanghai for the 2026 Appliance and Electronics World Expo (AWE) to scout for partners in China.

The four-day expo, which opened on Thursday, brought together more than 1,200 enterprises from around the world showcasing their latest innovations -- with over 10,000 products making their global debut.

For the first time, this year's expo features a "one exhibition, two zones" format. In addition to the main exhibition area at the Shanghai New International Expo Center, a parallel sub-exhibition zone has been set up at the Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone.

The new exhibition zone teems with international visitors. Bruna, a Brazilian buyer, is attending AWE — one of the world's top three exhibitions for household appliances and consumer electronics — for the first time. A seasoned player in import-export trade, she arrived with a clear focus.

"So, the idea was to see especially the trends and the novelty, the technologies, to understand a little bit how the technology is evolving and what can be potential products to sell in the Brazilian market," said Bruna.

The innovation of Chinese products acts as a magnet for international buyers, while the country's increasingly open institutional environment gives them the confidence to attend in person.

"I saw the immigration, but actually I never even had to show my passport. The QR code was there. So, this is basically like a free trade zone. Very interesting. Because I did go through the immigration part," said John, an Estonian Buyer.

At the international buyer matchmaking conference, every round table buzzed with lively conversation and the exchange of business cards. One attendee, wearing a pair of smart glasses developed by a Chinese company, said he had come to the expo specifically to find suppliers of intelligent devices such as robots.

"I'm from Romania. I'm looking mostly for robots and also VR (virtual reality) equipment and some other products. I think this is a good opportunity to visit AWE because I can get in touch directly with many suppliers here," said Rosca, a buyer from Romania.

He said that back in his home country, robots are rapidly becoming less of a novelty and more of a necessity. Hotels are requesting delivery robots, and a friend who organizes events has even started inquiring about renting robots that can dance.

"They want robots that I use in hotels -- the hospitality industry. Because some of my friends are actually doing these kinds of events. In the past, they were asking me for other products, like LED for the stage. Now they start asking me also for the robots for these performances," said Rosca.

AWE is becoming an excellent platform for a growing number of international buyers seeking new partnerships and business opportunities in China. According to data from the organizers, this year's expo attracted visitors from 112 countries and regions, marking a year-on-year increase of more than 30 percent.

Global buyers flock to AWE 2026 in Shanghai to hunt for new tech trends

The negation of the Tokyo Trial is tantamount to negating the international order after World War II, said a Japanese expert.

From May 3, 1946 to Nov. 12, 1948, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East was held in Tokyo by 11 countries, including the United States, China, the UK and the Soviet Union, to try Japan's Class-A war criminals after World War II. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the start of the Tokyo Trial.

Japanese historian Masataka Mori said the Tokyo Trial is important for Japan to return to the international community. Denying its legitimacy is not only a denial of the trial itself, but also undermines the foundation of the post-war international order.

"The Tokyo Trial played an important role in modern history. As Japan waged the war, the new concept of 'crimes against peace' was introduced to try the aggressors in the war. At last, 28 war criminals were prosecuted, seven of whom were sentenced to death. Japan was then repositioned in the post-war international order, and the Tokyo Trial was part of it. If we just call it a 'trial by the winners', or negate it from a 'self-tormenting historical perspective', it is tantamount to negating the whole post-war international order," said Mori.

Mori said the Nanjing Massacre was treated as a serious crime in the Tokyo Trial and subsequent trials, which has been widely recognized by the international community, but there are some voices in Japan still attempting to negate or blur the historical fact, which is really shameful.

"The most brutal part of the Nanjing Massacre was the rape and violence against women -- a fact known to the world, but only Japan denies it. That will only become an international laughingstock. As a Japanese, I'm deeply ashamed of this. It was undoubtedly one of the most serious and cruel atrocities during the Japanese invasion of China," he said.

Mori said Japan's pacifist constitution and the Tokyo Trial are the foundation for its post-war development, but the government is attempting to break through postwar restrictions and accelerate the country's remilitarization, which warrants high vigilance from the international community.

"The Tokyo Trial is part of the historical process, during which Japan formulated its pacifist constitution, especially the establishment of Article 9. It is part of the overall historical context and has a very close relationship with the Tokyo Trial. Recently, the government has taken a series of actions to pave the way for revising the constitution. It even proposed to increase defense spending to more than five percent of GDP, turning Japan into a military power. Against such a backdrop, constitutional revision was foreseeable. Therefore, it is necessary to be vigilant and make every effort to prevent it, so as to form a broad force across society to oppose constitutional revision," he said.

Negating Tokyo Trial means negating post-WWII int'l order: expert