21st int'l SMEs fair opens in Guangzhou

The four-day 21st China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF) opened in Guangzhou City, south China's Guangdong Province, on Thursday.

The fair this year has attracted more than 2,000 companies from 43 countries and regions presenting their latest innovative achievements at over 3,700 booths on site. Exhibits span a wide array of cutting-edge sectors, including artificial intelligence, new energy, new material and biomedicine.

This year's organizing theme is "AI Empowering SMEs," with a major focus on how artificial intelligence is accelerating transformation among small and medium enterprises.

This year marks the "APEC China Year," and for the first time, the international exhibition zone of the CISMEF sets up booths for APEC economies. All 21 APEC member economies are participating, featuring new products, technologies and signature industries from across the Asia-Pacific region.

Indonesia, as the guest country of honor, has set up an exhibition area with over 70 local enterprises on display, fully presenting Indonesia's local customs and cultural charm.

"It is not only about the showcase of product, but also about the business platform. We provide business matching. We have also the presentation of product. We have also provided something like business transaction. We can assign the MOU transaction. So we are as the ministry of micro small enterprises fairly fit from this event. So, we're sure that this is a good opportunity for two countries to make a good relationship and good businesses," said Bagus Rachman, deputy for Medium Enterprises at the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises of Indonesia.

With more than two decades of dedicated development, CISMEF has pursued reform and innovation toward greater internationalization, market-orientation, and professionalism.

21st int'l SMEs fair opens in Guangzhou

The United Nations on Friday urged Yemen's warring parties to exercise restraint amid a sharp escalation in military action.

Erupting at dawn Thursday, the latest escalation between Yemeni government forces and the Houthis intensified quickly as both sides sent more troops, armored vehicles, and equipment to the two fronts in Yemen's western provinces of Hodeidah and Taiz.

The round of conflict has since claimed at least 90 lives as of Friday, including 40 government soldiers and at least 50 Houthi fighters, across the two provinces, according to local medical officials.

The UN had "seen various reports concerning the recent sharp escalation in military action in various parts of Yemen," and is "deeply concerned by the ongoing military clashes across multiple front lines in Yemen, including Taiz," Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, told a press briefing in New York.

"We call on the Yemeni parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions and refrain from actions that could lead to further military escalation, which risk devastating political, economic, and security ramifications for Yemen and all of its people. The parties must prioritize dialogue and engage constructively with the United Nations-led efforts towards a negotiated political settlement," he said.

UN urges restraint in Yemen