Over the past seven decades, the China Import and Export Fair, widely known as the Canton Fair, has played a pivotal role in advancing both domestic and international trade. It has evolved into an effective platform for China to expand high-standard opening-up and foster an open world economy. On October 14, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the 140th Canton Fair, fully recognizing its historical achievements and reaffirming China’s firm commitment to broadening high-standard opening-up.
Yang Tao, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Commerce, stated, “President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory message is imbued with profound warmth and earnest expectations for the Canton Fair. It reaffirms the fair’s crucial role and highlights China’s sense of responsibility as a major power in injecting fresh impetus into global development and shared prosperity.”
He further noted that the Ministry of Commerce will thoroughly study and implement the core essence of President Xi’s congratulatory letter. Working in close coordination with Guangdong Province, the ministry will continue to ensure the successful convening of the Canton Fair while fostering the innovative and balanced development of foreign trade.
Additionally, the ministry aims to advance the integration of trade and investment, broaden mutually beneficial international economic and commercial cooperation, and accelerate efforts toward building China into a formidable trading nation, thereby making tangible contributions toward building a community with a shared future for mankind.
This year marks the 30th consecutive participation of the Spanish department store chain El Corte Inglés at the Canton Fair.
Ferrer, Managing Director of El Corte Inglés China, remarked, “The Canton Fair has established itself as a central hub for the global sourcing network, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for us to expand international collaboration and drive product innovation.”
He added that President Xi’s congratulatory letter has further bolstered their confidence in expanding business within China, and the group looks forward to forging more win-win, mutually beneficial partnerships with Chinese enterprises during the fair.
The Canton Fair serves as an “incubator” for the growth and scaling of foreign trade enterprises, as well as a proving ground for innovation and iterative development in export-oriented products.
Over the last seven decades, numerous domestic enterprises have secured overseas orders and successfully penetrated international markets via the Canton Fair platform.
For instance, Haier’s exhibition presence has expanded from just two refrigerators in its early days to over a hundred cutting-edge, innovative products today, leveraging the fair to penetrate an ever-widening overseas market.
Zhou Yunjie, Chairman and CEO of Haier Group, stated, “The Canton Fair is not merely a window for the world to observe China; it is equally a vital bridge for Chinese enterprises to connect with the globe and integrate seamlessly into international markets.”
He reaffirmed that the company will adhere to the spirit of President Xi’s message, reaching out to the global market with superior products and decisive initiatives while remaining steadfast on the path of independent brand innovation.
Against the backdrop of frequent geopolitical tensions and the rising tide of unilateralism and protectionism, international economic and trade cooperation faces mounting challenges and complexities. In his congratulatory message, President Xi emphasized that “China is willing to join hands with all nations to jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system,” injecting much-needed certainty and positive energy into open, collaborative global partnerships.
As a long-standing partner of the Canton Fair, Indonesia’s Kawan Lama Group is actively deepening its innovation-driven cooperation with Chinese enterprises.
Huang Yi Chun, Chairman of the group, observed, “China has consistently integrated into international innovation and the global industrial division of labor, actively maintaining the stability and unimpeded flow of global supply chains. Through platforms like the Canton Fair, we remain committed to introducing Chinese technology and advanced manufacturing capabilities to Indonesia, thereby assisting our country in upgrading its industrial foundation and integrating more effectively into global supply chains.”
Having withstood the test of evolving global landscapes, the Canton Fair continues to radiate renewed vitality. It stands as a testament that China’s door of opening-up will only open wider—consistently generating fresh opportunities, infusing new dynamism, and providing greater certainty to the global economy.
Source: Lily, Faisal, Shwarna | China Media Group (CMG)