The first phase of the 140th Canton Fair closed on 19 October with 189,000 overseas buyers registered, according to Xinhua. The buyers came from 214 countries and regions, and the figure was 13.3 percent higher than at the same point in the previous session.
The organizer, the China Foreign Trade Centre, gave the numbers to Xinhua. The outlet reported that the attendance set a record for the event.
Xinhua framed the turnout as evidence of the resilience and vitality of China's foreign trade. The report did not break the buyers down by country or give a value for deals signed during the phase.
The Canton Fair, held in Guangzhou, is one of China's largest trade exhibitions and runs in phases through the year. This is its 140th edition.
Watch for the organizer's figures for the fair's later phases, and for whether the record buyer turnout carries through to the full event.
