GUANGZHOU - The 110th Canton Fair, officially known as the China Import and Export Fair, opened Friday in the city of Guangzhou, capital of the southern province of Guangdong.

Delegates attend the Forum on the 110th Canton Fair in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province, Oct 14, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

Since this year marks the 10th anniversary of China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), the country is willing to give the world a signal of expanding its imports at the fair.

A total of 529 enterprises from 49 countries and regions are scheduled to attend the import exhibition at the fair. A series of bilateral seminars between Japan and Sweden, as well as seminars among Central and South American countries and China will be held to boost trade relations and prompt the world to learn more about China.

China's effort for expanding its imports will play a significant role in the world's economy recovery, said Harsha Vardhana Singh, deputy director general of the WTO, at a sideline forum at the fair.

Canton Fair is China's largest trade fair and a key indicator of the country's trade and economic development. The fair is held biannually in Guangzhou every spring and autumn since 1957.