The 133rd Canton Fair opened its doors to a whopping 370,000 visitors on April 15th, with 67,000 of them being foreign nationals. Additionally, over 410,000 people attended the event online, with 280,000 being from overseas. The fair, held in Guangzhou, China, is renowned for its influence in the world of international trade and commerce.

As a "barometer" and "weather vane" for China's foreign trade, the Canton Fair's popularity reflects the world's desire for quality goods and services. Tens of thousands of businesses have flocked to the event. What has drawn them here?

Intelligent manufacturing in China

With the rise of new international trade trends and market demands, the Canton Fair's organizers have added new themes such as industrial automation and intelligent manufacturing, new energy and intelligent networked vehicles, and smart home appliances. More than 9,000 first-time participants will be exhibiting their products, with over 300 new product launches taking place during the event.

New themes, new enterprises, and new products - behind these three "new" elements, lies the new value of the Canton Fair, and more importantly, the new driving force of China's industrial structural transformation and upgrading. Among the participating companies at this Canton Fair, the number of high-quality companies has reached a historical high, including industry leaders, "small giants", manufacturing champions, national high-tech enterprises, and national enterprise technology centers, totaling approximately 5,700 high-quality enterprises. More enterprises with a strong focus on technological innovation are taking the initiative to participate, telling the world that China's economy is growing rapidly.

Cooperation opportunities of openness

As the world's largest consumer market, China offers vast opportunities for high-quality products from around the world. The Canton Fair has set up import exhibitions across all three phases for the first time and five national-level import promotion and innovation demonstration zones, such as Guangzhou Nansha and Guangzhou Huangpu, so as to deepen practical cooperation with other countries and regions and promote trade liberalization and facilitation.

These efforts reflect China's opening-up strategy to pursue win-win cooperation and to build an open world economy. China's open and cooperative attitude has made its market the preferred destination for foreign investment. According to a special report on the economic situation in southern China released by the American Chamber of Commerce in South China in January, 75% of surveyed companies plan to reinvest in China in the next three to five years to expand their existing businesses and meet customer demands.

Canton Fair, Global Share

Studies have shown that the Canton Fair has a pulling effect on regional economies with a ratio of 1:13.6, meaning that every RMB 1 in transactions generates RMB 13.6 of economic benefits for the region. In a global environment of weak demand and downward pressure on foreign trade, the world needs an open and win-win event like the Canton Fair to create opportunities for building a safe, reliable, and efficient supply chain between international and Chinese companies. Chinese companies also hope to catch the express train of high-quality development and go global, and they see the Canton Fair as a great opportunity to achieve that goal.

Since its inception with the participation of 19 countries and regions, the Canton Fair has undergone a remarkable transformation. Today, it attracts buyers from over 220 countries and regions, elevating products to commodities, guests to buyers, and members to partners. This exceptional growth is a testament to its pivotal role as a bridge and a link in fostering win-win cooperation between China and foreign nations in international trade. As we embark on a new journey in a new era, the Canton Fair is determined to become an essential platform for China's comprehensive opening-up, fostering the high-quality development of international trade, and strengthening the connection between domestic and international dual circulation.

评论丨从万商云集看“中国第一展”的全球影响力

进场人次37万，其中外国人6.7万人次；线上参会人次41万，其中外国人28万人次……4月15日，第133届广交会首日开馆迎客，就迎来了超高人气。开放中国，千年商都，再迎万商云集，充分展现出“中国第一展”的市场号召力和全球影响力。

广交会作为中国外贸的“风向标”和“晴雨表”，展商的热情反映着世界的渴望。数以万计的企业瞄准史上最大规模广交会，究竟所为何来——

为优质的“中国智造”而来

面对国际贸易新趋势和市场新需求，广交会组委会增设工业自动化和智能制造、新能源及智能网联汽车、智慧生活等题材，新参展企业超过9000家，将举办新品首发活动300多场。

新题材、新企业、新产品，三个“新”背后，是广交会的新价值，更是中国产业结构转型升级的新力量。本届广交会参展企业中，优质特色企业数量创历史新高，行业头部企业和拥有专精特新“小巨人”、制造业单项冠军、国家级高新技术企业、国家企业技术中心等称号的优质企业共计约5700家。越来越多具有科技创新基因的企业主动出击，让世界清晰地听到了中国经济拔节生长的声音。

为开放的合作机遇而来

作为世界上最大的消费市场，中国能为各国优质产品提供广阔空间。本届广交会首次在3个展期均设进口展，并首次引入广州南沙、广州黄埔等5个国家级进口贸易促进创新示范区，推动各国各地区与示范区深化务实合作，共同促进国际贸易自由化、便利化。

这是中国坚定奉行互利共赢的开放战略，推动建设开放型世界经济的体现。中国以开放之姿拥抱合作伙伴，也让中国市场成为外商投资的“优选”。华南美国商会今年年初发布的《2023华南地区经济情况特别报告》显示，75%的受访企业计划在未来三到五年里进行在华再投资，以扩大现有业务，满足客户需求。

广交世界、互利天下

有关方面研究表明，广交会对区域经济的拉动效应达到了1：13.6。也就是说，在广交会上成交1元，就会给区域经济带来13.6元的效益。在全球需求不振、外贸下行压力加大的背景下，世界需要一场开放、共赢的盛会，为国际企业与中国企业合作构建安全、可靠、高效的供应链创造机会；中国企业也同样希望通过广交会，搭上高质量发展的快车，走出国门、走向世界。

从首届的19个国家和地区采购商到如今的220多个国家和地区采购商，广交会让展品变商品、客商变客人、成员变伙伴，已充分证明其加强中外经贸合作共赢的桥梁纽带作用。新时代新征程上，广交会正努力打造成为中国全方位对外开放、促进国际贸易高质量发展、联通国内国际双循环的重要平台。

文丨李妹妍
图丨羊城派资料图
翻译丨刘佳慧