On October 16, 2026, the 140th China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, officially opened in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. Serving as the barometer and weathervane of China's foreign trade, this edition of the Canton Fair marks its 70th anniversary. Highlighting innovation, intelligence, greater professionalism, and higher quality, it showcases China's new posture and vitality in global trade to the world. Against the backdrop of an urgent need to accelerate global economic recovery, this grand event not only builds a bridge for business and trade but also sends a strong signal of China's commitment to advancing high-standard opening-up.
The 140th Canton Fair boasts a massive scale, attracting over 30,000 exhibiting companies and welcoming approximately 340,000 international buyers. As one of the world's few one-stop trade platforms, the Canton Fair is renowned for its comprehensive product range, convenience, and efficiency, bringing together the latest global products and cutting-edge technologies. The exhibition halls buzz with intense business negotiations. This high-density business matching effectively reduces global procurement costs, providing strong support for the stability and prosperity of global supply chains, and further consolidating China's pivotal position in the global industrial chain.
Innovation is a standout feature of this year's Canton Fair. Data shows that approximately 64% of exhibiting enterprises have actively adopted new technologies, including the Industrial Internet and Artificial Intelligence (AI), to drive the transformation of traditional manufacturing toward high-end and intelligent development. Meanwhile, the proportion of new products and green, eco-friendly products has reached 23.2% and 26% respectively, both hitting record highs, fully reflecting the firm strides of China's manufacturing sector toward green, low-carbon, and sustainable development. During the fair, more than 700 new product launch events will be held in intensive sessions, providing global buyers with a wealth of procurement options and injecting new vitality into the market. Numerous overseas visitors have shown keen interest in the cutting-edge technological products on display.
The Canton Fair has also undergone a comprehensive upgrade in digital and intelligent operations. This edition marks the debut of 22 smart application scenarios and 16 AI applications, significantly enhancing the technological content and management efficiency of the event. From intelligent security to real-time multilingual translation, AI technology permeates the entire event management process. Furthermore, the booth navigation system now covers the entire exhibition venue. Through smart terminals, it provides exhibitors and buyers with a more convenient and precise experience for touring and networking, effectively solving the pain point of inefficient matching in large-scale exhibitions and earning unanimous praise from attendees on site.
During the fair, Zhu Yong, Director of the China Foreign Trade Centre, stated, "We have always worked hand in hand with exhibitors and buyers to jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system and promote the building of an open world economy." This statement underscores China's firm determination to adhere to opening-up and promote the prosperity of global trade, while also injecting confidence into the global economy in its recovery phase. As the organizer, the China Foreign Trade Centre continues to make sustained efforts in optimizing exhibition services and protecting intellectual property rights, striving to create a world-class international business environment for domestic and overseas clients.
The 140th Canton Fair will be held in three phases in Guangzhou, running from October 15 to November 4. Looking back on its 70-year development journey, the Canton Fair has grown into China's longest-running, largest, and most comprehensive international trade event, boasting the widest variety of products, the largest turnout of buyers, and the most successful transaction outcomes. Standing at a new historical starting point, this Canton Fair is not only a premier trading event but also an important window for China to promote high-quality development, deepen international economic and trade cooperation, and share development opportunities. Looking ahead, the Canton Fair will continue to leverage its platform advantages to contribute more to the building of an open world economy.