China's President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 140th China Import and Export Fair, according to Xinhua. The state news agency characterized the message as a signal of China's commitment to high-level opening, in a report published Wednesday.
Premier Li Qiang attended the opening ceremony of the Canton Fair and delivered a keynote speech, according to the Beijing municipal government's official portal. The fair, held in Guangzhou, is a major fixture on China's trade calendar.
Zhejiang province sent more than 7,700 companies to the 140th edition, according to Sohu. That figure reflects the scale of provincial participation in the event.
The run-up to the fair also drew attention to regional trade performance. ThePaper.cn reported that Shanghai's import and export scale has grown for 19 consecutive months, with the city's commerce commission pointing to what it described as the drivers behind that growth.
Corporate exhibitors used the fair to present their latest products. Sina Mobile highlighted Gree's booth, framing the company's presence around a shift from household appliances toward what it described as innovation that empowers global markets.
The Canton Fair remains a venue where Chinese officials set out trade policy priorities and where exporters court overseas buyers. Xinhua's framing of Xi's letter places the event within Beijing's broader messaging on openness.
What to watch next: whether the fair produces concrete export deals or policy announcements that follow the themes struck at the opening.
