Green, smart upgrades boost orders for traditional manufacturers at Canton Fair

Traditional manufacturers are securing growing global orders at the ongoing Canton Fair through technological innovation, green transformation, and smart upgrades, showcasing the fresh vitality of China's manufacturing sector.

Held in Guangzhou, southern China, the 139th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) runs from April 15 to May 5 in three five-day phases.

The first phase, running from April 15 to 19, is themed "advanced manufacturing." It features 19 exhibition areas in five major sections, including electronics and home appliances, and industrial manufacturing.

Over 12,000 enterprises are showcasing their products characterized by high-end intelligence, green and low-carbon technologies.

At the fair, a high-end smart home appliance maker from Foshan, Guangdong Province is presenting its latest products equipped with new technologies, drawing significant interest and inquiries from buyers.

"We are integrating both intelligent and green development. AI-powered technology helps improve the energy efficiency of our air conditioners. We also hope to leverage the Canton Fair as a platform to showcase our products," said exhibitor Yu Fangwen.

A buyer from Uzbekistan showed strong interest in the company's energy-efficient smart air conditioner that monitors carbon dioxide levels in real time, and placed an order for 85,000 units.

"We are the largest home appliance company in Uzbekistan. We came here to source products for the upcoming peak sales season, especially air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators. We think highly of the Canton Fair because we come here twice every year and always find many new products," the buyer said.

In the engineering machinery section, new-energy forklifts have become a key highlight, with lithium-powered counterbalance forklifts and electric warehouse forklifts accounting for the majority of exhibits.

Compared with conventional fuel-powered forklifts, new energy models feature lower energy consumption, zero emissions and lower noise, while also offering fast charging, long battery life, and safe, stable performance, fully aligning with the global trend toward intelligent, green, and low-carbon industrial development.

"We use China's highly mature and advanced technologies in lithium batteries, electric motors and electronic control systems for new energy equipment. This is our third consecutive year attending the Canton Fair, and we believe this platform helps connect us with the world and the future," said exhibitor Hu Zhu.

Green, smart upgrades boost orders for traditional manufacturers at Canton Fair

American Nobel laureate James Heckman said he remains positive and optimistic about China's development, as the Chinese have always been pragmatic and realistic.

Heckman, an American economist who won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2000, shared his views on China and the Chinese people in an exclusive interview with China Media Group (CMG) in Beijing, which was released on Friday.

"I think it comes from several forces, dealing with the Chinese and seeing the vitality in the society. And I think there is a fundamental energy there. The elements are there, the vitality is there in terms of the industries, the universities. The country's vital, the people are intelligent, the society is rich in a fundamental way. The Chinese have always been very pragmatic, and they are very realistic," he said.

Heckman said what makes him admire about the Chinese people is their virtues and values.

"Look at China as a place that has a deep sense of values. Hard work and the values that I think are truly virtues, character values. But, see, China also has a chip on its shoulder, it does. It had a chip on its shoulder since the 1840s, the Opium War, right? And so there's a sense that you can see it, and I don't mind, that's kind of good. Because they're getting stronger and stronger and you can't help but admire it in the sense that, yes, they are stronger, and they're doing things much more wisely in many ways than what we're doing," Heckman said.

"So there's a sense in which there's more of a sense of purpose in China. Most of the Chinese students that I deal with and people I deal with, even though they may disagree on details, have this sense of unity and pride in China. And I think that's lacking with a lot of Americans," he said.

U.S. Nobel laureate optimistic about China's development