Canton Fair matchmaking events efficiently connect global buyers, Chinese suppliers

The 139th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, has connected global buyers with Chinese suppliers through a series of targeted matchmaking activities, helping enterprises secure orders and deepen their presence on international markets.

Focusing on the core needs of both parties, the fair has rolled out diverse supply-procurement matchmaking events across its exhibition halls.

Tailored to an Australian buyer's requirements, organizers pre-screened and matched 15 qualified Chinese suppliers. Following face-to-face negotiations, five suppliers quickly reached preliminary cooperation agreements with the buyer.

"This event helped me. We can directly work with the Chinese factory. Some of the suppliers, they know actually the Australian market as well, very well. So, [it] saves a lot of time to us as well," said the Australian buyer.

International buyers continue to praise the Canton Fair as a reliable platform for sourcing quality products and accessing cutting-edge technologies from China.

"I need the Canton Fair. China, every year, improves new technologies, the technology tools. For me, this is good. Canton fair means for me reliable -- the product quality is good -- and stable. Everything goes on smoothly. This is so important," said a Turkish buyer.

As of now, the 139th Canton Fair has successfully hosted 28 supply-procurement matchmaking events, facilitating efficient business connections.

In a move to improve service for major buyers, the fair has also introduced a new "appointment-exclusive negotiation area", offering one-on-one precision matchmaking services for leading global procurement companies. Currently, 71 top enterprises have expressed interest in booking such services.

As of Saturday, 320 head procurement companies had registered to attend the fair, a 10-percent increase compared to the previous edition.

The Canton Fair is held twice a year in Guangzhou, the capital city of south China's Guangdong Province. It is the longest running of several comprehensive international trade events in China.

The 139th Canton Fair runs from April 15 to May 5.

Canton Fair matchmaking events efficiently connect global buyers, Chinese suppliers

With the May Day holiday coinciding with spring breaks in various regions, China's railway tourism market is heating up earlier than usual, as passenger-friendly measures are rolled out to boost cultural and tourism consumption.

"My family booked this trip for me. I'm just happy to travel with my husband," said a passenger.

In time for the May Day holiday, a new batch of branded tourist trains will be launched to cater to diverse passenger needs. China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway) is also rolling out discount policies on tourist special trains as part of broader efforts to revitalize cultural tourism spending.

Meanwhile, accommodation along tourist train routes has begun offering coupon-based discounts.

According to data, the number of tourist trains operating nationwide in the first quarter increased by 440 compared to the same period last year. Moving forward, the integration of railway and tourism will continue to deepen.

"We plan to operate over 2,500 tourist trains this year and develop 50 premium railway tourist routes, so as to continuously energize the railway tourism market and foster new growth drivers in railway-backed consumer services," said Zhang Tao, deputy marketing director of the Passenger Transport Center of China Railway.

China rolls out passenger-friendly railway services ahead of May Day travel rush