[Guangzhou, China] This golden October brings together myriad merchants. The 138th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, renowned as "China's No. 1 Exhibition" and the "barometer of China's foreign trade," grandly opened today at the Guangzhou Pazhou International Convention and Exhibition Center. Against the backdrop of profound transformations in the global economic landscape, the grand commencement of this session not only injects robust "Chinese momentum" into global trade but also demonstrates to the world China's firm resolve to advance high-level opening up and share market opportunities.

Unprecedented Scale Highlights Resilience of China's Foreign Trade

This Canton Fair continues the innovative hybrid model, combining online and offline exhibitions. The total exhibition area has expanded to 1.55 million square meters, with over 74,000 booths. It features a strong lineup of participating high-quality enterprises from around the globe, with the number of brand companies reaching a new high, underscoring the Fair's vital role as a platform for brand incubation and display. Reports indicate that the offline exhibition is, as usual, held in three phases, focusing respectively on "traditional strengths" like household appliances, hardware and tools, building materials and home furnishings, as well as the "new three" and high-end manufacturing sectors, including new energy, intelligent and connected vehicles, and industrial automation. This comprehensively showcases the fruitful achievements of the transformation and upgrading of China's manufacturing industry.

The online platform has been fully optimized with more sophisticated functions, providing round-the-clock "cloud-based" participation, negotiation, and contract signing experiences for global buyers unable to attend in person, ensuring the Canton Fair's connectivity never ends.

Innovation-Driven, "Intelligent Manufacturing in China" Shines

Upon entering the exhibition halls, the most striking aspect is the overwhelming sense of technological sophistication and innovative vitality. Compared to previous sessions, the product mix has undergone significant changes, with "smart," "green," and "healthy" emerging as the key themes.

• Smart Home Ecosystems: Moving beyond single electrical products, exhibits now feature integrated smart living solutions connected through IoT technology, ranging from smart kitchens to whole-house air management, demonstrating the depth of Chinese companies' thinking regarding industrial chain integration and user experience.

• New Energy Product Arrays: Products like photovoltaic modules, energy storage systems, and electric bicycles are abundantly displayed. Their rapid technological iteration has attracted numerous international buyers seeking green transformation, making them a testament to China's pursuit of its "dual carbon" goals.

• High-End Equipment and Industrial Robots: High-precision machine tools and flexible robotic arms with independent intellectual property rights were demonstrated performing complex operations on site, signaling that "Made in China" is striding confidently towards "Intelligent Manufacturing in China" and climbing towards the high end of the global value chain.

A seasoned European buyer remarked, "Every Canton Fair brings new surprises. The innovation speed and application capability of Chinese companies are impressive. This is not just a place to source finished products, but also a bellwether for spotting future consumer trends and technological tides."

Connecting Internally and Externally, Building a Golden Bridge for Global Trade

Since its inception in 1957, the Canton Fair has consistently been a crucial window for China's opening up and a golden bridge for Sino-foreign trade. The 138th session has attracted hundreds of thousands of registered buyers from over 200 countries and regions worldwide. Within the exhibition halls, buyers of diverse ethnicities and languages shuttled between booths, meticulously inquiring about product specifications or engaging in detailed negotiations – the familiar scene of bustling commercial activity has returned.

In addition to traditional business negotiations, this session also meticulously organized various thematic forums, new product launches, and the "Trade Bridge" global supply and procurement matching activities. These initiatives aim to provide participants with more diverse market information, cutting-edge industry insights, and more precise matching services, helping global enterprises share the opportunities of China's vast market and facilitating the better global distribution of high-quality Chinese products.

Conclusion

The grand opening of the 138th Canton Fair resonates as a powerful note of openness and cooperation in our times. It is more than just a trade fair for goods; it is a conveyance of confidence and a display of vitality. At a time when the global economy faces challenges, China, through the window of the Canton Fair, unequivocally declares once again: China's door will only open wider. We anticipate that, throughout the coming exhibition period, the convergence of myriad merchants will spark even more cooperation, contributing greater "Canton Fair strength" to building an open global economy and promoting the recovery and development of world trade.