The third and final phase of the 140th China Import and Export Fair, better known as the Canton Fair, opened Saturday in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, focusing on the theme of "Better Life."
This phase highlights how Chinese enterprises and products are breaking new ground while transitioning toward greener and smarter development.
Covering 515,000 square meters with 25,000 booths, this phase features 21 exhibition zones across five major categories, including toys, home textiles, stationery, and health and leisure, with more than 12,000 companies participating.
In the trade services area, more than 160 institutions offer services such as research and development, design, digital transformation, and integrated trade and investment, providing one-stop, full-chain support to help enterprises and products expand into global markets.
The 140th Canton Fair runs in three phases from Oct. 15 to Nov. 4. Over the past 70 years, it has grown into China's largest and longest-running international trade event, featuring the broadest product range, largest buyer turnout, and highest transaction volume.
Third phase of 140th Canton Fair opens in Guangzhou
The ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) is set to feature 81 groups of cultural relics and artworks with a total value exceeding 400 million yuan (about 60 million U.S. dollars), as exhibits are transported to the National Exhibition and Convention Center for installation ahead of the expo's opening in Shanghai on November 5.
This year marks the sixth consecutive year that the CIIE has set up a dedicated cultural relics and artworks zone.
On Friday, six artworks from France and the United States were declared for release from the bonded zone.
Among the exhibits is a 1950 crocodile brooch by American jewelry designer David Webb. The golden crocodile features emerald eyes and a diamond-encrusted neck.
Another set of century-old red enamel gold boxes, includes a portable powder box, cigarette case and snuff box, will be displayed at this year's CIIE alongside the crocodile brooch and ruby earrings.
According to Shanghai Customs, as of Thursday, nine companies had declared 81 batches of cultural relics and artworks, valued at approximately 474 million yuan, for release from the bonded zone to participate in the expo. Both the quantity and diversity of the exhibits have increased significantly compared to the previous edition.
Unlike ordinary goods, these exhibits in the cultural relics and artworks zone carry high value and demand exceptional care in packaging, transit, and storage. Customs has introduced customized regulatory services to ensure their safe and smooth delivery to the exhibition hall.
"We rely on the big data platform to connect all links of cargo declaration, pre-review and verification, and support the CIIE green channel with convenient measures such as dedicated staff and posts and appointment-based customs clearance," said Wang Ou, deputy chief of the Second Bonded Supervision Section of the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone Customs.
The ninth CIIE will be held in Shanghai from Nov 5 to 10. A total of 162 countries, regions and international organizations will take part, with 4,142 overseas companies exhibiting. The overall exhibition area for companies will exceed 370,000 square meters for the first time.
Launched in 2018 as the world's first national-level expo dedicated to imports, the CIIE was designed to expand China's opening-up and turn its vast market into a shared opportunity for the world.
Ninth CIIE expects 81 groups of cultural relics, artworks worth over 400 mln yuan
