Canton Fair expands, restarts in-person exhibits

China Import and Export Fair, the country's largest trade event, will restart in-person exhibitions in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, from Saturday to May 5. Organizers say the event will attract more than 34,000 domestic and overseas exhibitors.

The fair's 133rd session — spread over the largest exhibition area in its history — will increase the number of booths from the previous 60,000 to 70,000. Some 9,000 new companies will participate.

"Because China optimized its COVID-19 policy, the fair can fully resume offline exhibitions — with more space, themes and plenty of new products to offer participants from home and abroad," said Xu Bing, spokesman for the fair, during a news conference on Thursday.

The fair, known also as the Canton Fair, has normally been held twice a year, in spring and autumn.

According to Xu, online exhibitions will continue during the spring session, with 39,281 companies putting their products on display.

Additionally, 508 overseas companies from 40 countries and regions will join the event in person, with an exhibition area of 30,000 square meters — 50 percent larger than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of the overseas companies, more than 73 percent are from countries and regions related to the Belt and Road Initiative, according to organizers.

Buyers from 226 countries and regions have registered online and offline to participate in the fair, with 47 international business entities invited to organize professional delegations, Xu said.

"More intelligent, green and low-carbon Chinese products will be exhibited during the fair to help expand high-quality products in the global market," he said.