Reference News reported on April 17 that the Canton Fair, known as "China's No. On the same day, the third China International Consumer Goods Fair (Consumer Fair) closed in Hainan. The sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE) will open in the second half of the year. Analysts pointed out that the national "exhibition matrix" unites the world with a strong magnetic field, and releases positive signals for China to boost consumer confidence and promote high-level opening up.
According to reports, China's top leaders made it clear at last month's National People's Congress that "we still have to eat reform and take an open path." According to the report, this means that China will adhere to a higher level of opening up to the outside world on a larger scale, in a wider field and at a deeper level. In the meetings between Chinese leaders and foreign dignitaries who recently visited China, the same signal was conveyed: China will adhere to reform and opening up, more actively integrate high-standard international economic and trade rules, and firmly promote high-level opening up.
The report notes that in recent weeks, Chinese Premier Li Qiang has said that China needs to "find ways" to stabilize exports to developed economies and develop markets in developing countries and regional markets such as ASEAN. He said he would win over foreign investors, support private companies, and said China would remain open to foreign investment and trade.
The report also said that the Chinese government is vigorously promoting investment, and the enthusiasm for holding large-scale trade fairs is also increasing. The Canton Fair is undoubtedly China's most recognizable commodity fair in the world with the widest influence, and it is also a bright business card that showcases Guangdong and China's opening up to the outside world.
The total exhibition area of this Canton Fair is nearly 1.5 million square meters, which is equivalent to more than 200 football fields. Over the next three weeks, some 35,000 exhibitors will fill their booths with refrigerators, gearboxes, jackets and a wide variety of other products. Thousands of companies from more than 200 countries and regions will send representatives to participate in the exhibition.
The Canton Fair is held twice a year, and the six editions held from 2017 to 2019 each brought in about $30 billion in orders, despite U.S. trade tariffs on Chinese goods during that period. The new crown epidemic has forced the cancellation of recent Canton Fairs, moved them online or held them without overseas businessmen.
Chris Sillitoe is the owner of a tool and hardware sourcing business in the UK. He said he was eager to attend the Canton Fair again.
Sillitto said: "We are all optimistic and excited about being able to come to the Canton Fair. It has been a long time since (the last time we participated in the exhibition)."
The role of the Canton Fair has evolved over the years. Today, exporters pay less attention to the actual number of transactions, and instead regard the Canton Fair as a platform for building connections and raising awareness.
Qin Yurong, who exports TV antennas to Southeast Asia, said business grew more than 10% year-on-year in the first quarter of this year. "With the borders reopening, it's definitely going to be better than it's been for the past three years," she said.
