Canton Fair to use tech to boost historic online session

The 127th session of the China Import and Export Fair, the first online fair in its 63-year history, will make full use of information technologies, including the internet, big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence, to provide more possibilities to boost sales during the event, according to its organizer.

In line with China's development trend of livestreaming, an increasingly popular tool in the country's digital marketing landscape, the fair, also known as the Canton Fair, will provide 24-hour live broadcasting platforms for exhibitors to better interact with the buyers throughout the world, said Li Jinqi, deputy director of the organizing committee of the Canton Fair.

Buyers can easily access related exhibits while watching the live broadcast, he said, adding there are a variety of online communication tools to help buyers and sellers to interact in real time, as well as improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of online negotiations.

To promote global trade and share mutually beneficial development, Li said activities, such as online signing and new product launches to showcase innovative products, will be encouraged during the event. Companies can display their brand image in multiple dimensions through formats such as pictures, videos and 3D to buyers in other parts of the world.

Exhibition fees will be waived to cope with the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic and help foreign trade companies to expand the market and tide over difficulties. The cross-border e-commerce platforms that participate in fair-related activities will also be exempted from fees, said Zhang Li, deputy director-general of the Ministry of Commerce's department of foreign trade,

The 127th Canton Fair will be held online from June 15 to 24.