Canton Fair sees high-tech flourish

Products with cutting-edge technologies, representing China's new quality productive forces, have become popular procurement items for foreign buyers in the first phase of the 140th session of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, according to the trade event's organizers.

Centered around the theme of advanced manufacturing, the fair's first phase, which concluded on Monday in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, closely aligned with global industrial and trade trends, the organizers said.

By showcasing the latest achievements in major sectors including electronics and home appliances, industrial automation, lighting and electrical, hardware tools, new energy vehicles and smart mobility, the fair has seen an increased number of foreign buyers visiting its first phase.

As of Monday, 189,000 buyers from 214 countries and regions participated in the fair's first phase, an increase of 13.3 percent compared with the same period of the last session in spring, according to the organizers.

Meanwhile, more than 12,000 Chinese companies participated in the fair's first phase, of which over 6,000 high-quality companies are recognized for their high-tech, specialized and innovative products, as well as their status as single-item champions.

"The fair serves as a window to showcase our technologies and business strategy, allowing us to connect with buyers from around the world," said Guo Cong, co-founder and chief technology officer of Pudu Robotics, a global leader in the commercial service robotics sector.

In the first half, the company's export volume had already surpassed the total for the previous year, with its products being sold to 85 countries and regions.

The company, based in Shenzhen, a pioneering city in China's reform and opening-up, follows a global localization strategy — keeping the production base in China while placing sales, operations, service and training overseas, according to Guo.

Specifically, the company has established five overseas subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United States and the Netherlands, with local offices and service warehouses in major global markets, along with a collaborative network of over 1,000 agents.

Must Energy (Guangdong) Tech Co, based in Foshan, Guangdong, a manufacturing and trade city in the Pearl River Delta region, also experienced a surge in the number of visitors and orders during the fair.

The company showcased new products including 60 kilowatt hybrid inverters and high-voltage lithium batteries with a maximum capacity of up to 240 kilowatt-hours, providing solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in regions like Africa and Latin America.

"The visitor turnout at this year's fair has exceeded our expectations and we already have contracts ready for payment," said Xiong Zhixiang, head of the company's Asia-Pacific regional business.

The majority of buyers at the fair visiting the company's booth came from Central Africa, North Africa, Latin America, India and Pakistan, with a significant proportion from the Middle East.

"Additionally, a number of buyers from Central African markets had business discussions with us during the fair, marking a successful expansion into a new commercial region," said Xiong.

The fair, held twice a year in spring and autumn, is seen as a barometer of China's foreign trade, as it has become one of the largest foreign trade events in terms of the number of foreign buyers and domestic exhibitors.

qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn