First batch of overseas exhibits for 139th Canton Fair clear customs

The first batch of overseas exhibits for the 139th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, cleared customs at Nansha Port of south China's Guangdong Province on Wednesday, marking the start of inbound preparations for the event.

The Canton Fair is China's longest-running, largest, most comprehensive, and most widely attended international trade event. The 139th edition of the fair will run in three phases from April 15 to May 5 in Guangdong's provincial capital Guangzhou.

Spanning 1.55 million square meters and featuring 75,500 booths, it is expected to draw more than 30,000 participating companies.

The initial shipment, consisting of 137 items of household and kitchen products made in Türkiye, weighs around 18,000 kilograms, setting a record for the heaviest single batch of inbound exhibits in the fair's history. After clearance by the customs, the goods were promptly transported to the exhibition venue. More exhibits from countries including Egypt, South Korea, India and Malaysia are expected to arrive in the coming days.

To facilitate the process, ports have set up dedicated service counters for the fair and have been leveraging digital customs solutions to ensure faster and more efficient clearance.

"Under the integrated customs clearance system, we can complete customs declarations online. Upon their arrival, the goods are quickly inspected and released, completing customs clearance with high efficiency and giving overseas exhibitors more time to prepare their displays and fully present their product features," said He Xishan, a project manager at a logistics company.

"We have set up special customs clearance windows for Canton Fair exhibits. We have also coordinated in advance with port to ensure smooth berthing and handling of exhibits. Priority is given to customs clearance procedures such as declaration, inspection, sampling and testing for exhibition goods, so that goods can be inspected and released immediately upon arrival," said Kang Le, an official with Nansha Customs.

First batch of overseas exhibits for 139th Canton Fair clear customs

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of the Kingdom of Thailand in Beijing on Wednesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that President Xi Jinping and King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua reached important consensus last year on promoting the building of a China-Thailand community with a shared future, pointing out the direction for deepening China-Thailand friendship.

Recognizing Princess Sirindhorn as an old and good friend of the Chinese people, Wang said that Princess Sirindhorn has witnessed China's reform and opening up as well as Chinese modernization, and has also devoted a great deal of effort and made outstanding contributions to deepening the friendship between China and Thailand.

China is willing to work with Thailand to take the important consensus reached by the two heads of state as the fundamental guideline, carry forward their traditional friendship, strengthen cooperation with Thailand in areas of concern to Princess Sirindhorn such as high technology, education and people's livelihood, and promote the building of a China-Thailand community with a shared future to bear fruit and benefit the two peoples, said Wang.

Noting that the Thai side appreciates the support given by the Chinese side, Sirindhorn said it is hoped that the two sides will further enhance communication and exchanges in various fields, strengthen practical cooperation in science and technology, agriculture, medicine, culture, education and other aspects, promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, and advance the cause of Thailand-China friendship.

Chinese FM meets Thai princess Sirindhorn