The 139th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) is being held in Guangzhou from April 15 to May 5, running in three phases.

According to the Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Commerce, the Qingdao delegation has registered a record 949 offline exhibitors, including leading companies such as Haier, Hisense, Aucma, and Doublestar. Among them, 46 are brand-name enterprises, occupying 270 branded booths and 1,410 standard booths.

Covering 1.55 million square meters with 75,700 exhibition spaces and over 32,000 exhibitors, this edition surpasses previous records in scale. The fair highlights the trends of new, green, and smart products, adding nine new sections including smart wearables, display technology, consumer drones, and prefabricated houses. It has also expanded zones for electronic consumer goods, new materials, and industrial automation.

As of April 9, more than 210,000 buyers had pre-registered, including 290 top-tier purchasing companies, up 30 percent year-on-year. Some 148 business institutions had followed suit, up 17.5 percent. Global giants like Walmart, Tesco, and Carrefour have also confirmed their participation at this year's event.

Amid a complex international trading environment, the Canton Fair serves as a vital platform for global cooperation. The Qingdao delegation will provide targeted services, training, and business matching to help local exhibitors secure orders and expand their markets, contributing to the high?quality development of Qingdao's foreign trade.

The China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicks off its 139th edition on April 15 in Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong. [Photo by Qiu Quanlin/chinadaily.com.cn]