The 140th China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, opened on October 15, according to Xinhua. This edition marks 70 years since the trade event was founded, and Xinhua describes it as carrying a renewed focus on innovation, smart manufacturing, and greater specialization.
The first phase of the fair is built around the theme of advanced manufacturing. Xinhua reports that it covers a total exhibition area of 520,000 square meters, with more than 25,000 booths and over 12,000 participating companies.
Xinhua characterizes the Canton Fair as a rare one-stop trade platform, notable for its broad range of product categories and its convenience and efficiency for buyers. The outlet also refers to the event as a barometer and bellwether for China's foreign trade.
Coverage of the milestone edition has extended beyond the exhibition floor. Guangming Net reported on the fair's role in opening China's economy to the world as it enters a new phase, while People's Daily wrote about expanding high-level opening-up and building an open world economy. Phoenix Net reported that BrainCo, a brain-computer interface company, took part in a symposium marking the fair's 70 years and received a commemorative badge.
What to watch next: whether the advanced manufacturing focus of phase one carries through the fair's later phases, and how the 70-year milestone shapes the event's positioning in the seasons ahead.