The 139th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, has seen more than 300 new product launch events by Sunday, the last day of the first phase of the event.
The fair, which opened Wednesday in Guangzhou City, south China's Guangdong Province, set new records for exhibition area, the number of booths, and the number of participating companies.
Focusing on "Advanced Manufacturing," the first phase of the fair attracted over 5,900 high-tech exhibitors, companies that apply specialized, sophisticated techniques to produce unique, novel products.
The second phase of the fair will run from April 23 to 27 under the theme "Quality Home Life," showcasing the latest developments in green building materials, smart housewares, and creative living solutions.
The Canton Fair is held twice a year in Guangzhou. Established in 1957, it is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trade events in China, and has been hailed as the barometer of China's foreign trade.
First phase of 139th Canton Fair features over 300 new product launch events
Business leaders, researchers and entrepreneurs from around the world gathered at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), where discussions are focusing on turning AI innovation into cross-border partnerships and real-world applications.
The 2026 WAIC is running in Shanghai from Friday to Monday under the theme "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future."
Across the exhibition halls, conversations often extended beyond product demonstrations, with visitors exploring potential partnerships, supply chains and overseas expansion.
Among them was Paolo Brizzi, chief information officer of Italy's Competence Center for Industry and Manufacturing (CIM), who met with a Chinese AI company to discuss cooperation ranging from industrial applications to entering the European market.
"My point is not to be a customer or a provider of technologies, but to identify parts [where we can] actually collaborate and work together," he said.
The four-day conference has also created opportunities for startups to connect with investors, researchers and potential customers. One startup launched an online networking group on the opening day, attracting hundreds of participants who exchanged ideas, explored business opportunities and sought technical solutions.
Participants said AI innovation depends not only on technological breakthroughs but also on cooperation across industries and countries.
"Collaboration is important because alone you cannot do so much. It needs to be a team support ecosystem," said Florian Wohlrab, CEO of Canada-based OpenHW Foundation.
For many international visitors, the conference is also an opportunity to explore how AI can help address practical challenges. Omar Khan, a participant from Pakistan, said international cooperation is essential to ensuring AI benefits everyone.
"I think, for me, we are all the one. We're human and I think we can cooperate a lot," he said.
Some attendees were looking for solutions to challenges in their home countries. A visitor from Kenya said AI applications such as weather forecast and soil analysis could help improve agricultural productivity across many parts of Africa, where farming remains a cornerstone of the economy.
As countries race to advance AI technologies, participants at this year's WAIC said the conference has become a platform for connecting ideas, technology and demand across borders, helping turn AI innovation into practical international cooperation.
World AI Conference highlights growing demand for global AI partnership
