Exhibition Special: Canton Fair to focus on imports, balanced trade

Preparations are underway for the 111th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, one of China's oldest and best-known trade exhibitions.

Canton Fair's success largely hinges on its import exhibition at the international pavilion, a venue that offers quality overseas products. The exhibition is poised to become a platform for balancing the nation's trade structure and boosting imports.

In years past, the focus of the fair has been finding buyers for China's exports. However, the Canton Fair this year has given a priority to high-quality exhibitors from overseas, leading global enterprises, exhibitors from countries that have trade deficits with China as well as energy-saving, eco-friendly and high-tech manufacturers.

The international pavilion, the highlight of the 111th Fair, will run from April 15 to April 19 and May 1 to May 5 this year at the landmark Pazhou Complex in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province.

The first phase will focus on electronics and household electrical appliances, building materials and hardware, machinery equipment and industrial raw materials in an area of 15,000 square meters.

The second phase will feature food, agricultural products, medical, health and beauty care products, gift and decorations in an exhibition space covering 5,000 square meters.

Organizers also vowed to further improve the quality of the fair to live up to the high standards set by last year's event.

Last year, the international pavilion for the 110th session of the Canton Fair attracted numerous exhibitors and business opportunities.

The number of visitors increased by 11,409 to 103,060, a growth rate of 12.4 percent.

The import exhibition in the international pavilion had strong backing from the Department of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Commerce, the Department of North American and Oceania Affairs of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Department of Asian Affairs of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products.

The official support from various levels of government showed an effort to align policy across departments with the Ministry of Commerce's goal of expanding imports and balancing the development of foreign trade .

The international pavilion for the 110th session was held during phase one and phase three last year and featured nearly 880 booths in total.

South Korea, the United States, India, Turkey and China were ranked top five in terms of countries with the most booths.

Exhibitors from nearly 530 companies from 49 countries and regions were in attendance.

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 04/13/2012 page15)