Press Release of the Opening of the 120th Session of China Import and Export Fair

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Mr. Xu Bing, spokesperson of the Canton Fair, Deputy Director General of China Foreign Trade Centre
(Oct. 14th, 2016, Guangzhou)

Dear friends from the press, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning! Welcome to the Press Conference for the opening of the 120th session of China Import and Export Fair. I would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt gratitude to journalists from home and abroad for your support and interest for the development of the Canton Fair.

With intense but orderly preparation, we are ready for the 120th Canton Fair, which will open tomorrow. The 120th Canton Fair signifies a milestone in its history of 60 years, which builds on the past and prepares for the future and is of great significance. Organizing the 120th Canton Fair well is crucial to display the image of China and the achievements of reform and opening up as well as to promote transformation and upgrading of China's foreign trade and its steady and positive growth.

With the attention and support of the Central Committee, the State Council and the Chinese people, the Canton Fair has never been interrupted by all kinds of severe challenges since it was founded in 1957. During the 60 years, as the best platform for Chinese companies to enter the international market, the Canton Fair has boosted trade between China and the world. It is not only the exemplary base of implementing the development strategy of China's foreign trade, but also an important symbol of China's opening up.

Currently, the deep-seated influence of the international financial crisis remains with insufficient effective demand and sluggish global trade. The cost of domestic production factor rises and our traditional competitive advantage weakens. China’s undertaking of international industrial transfer has slowed down while the outbound order and industrial transfer has accelerated. The Central Committee and the State Council pay great attention to foreign trade and have introduced a series of policy documents with unprecedented support. As policy measures for the steady and positive development of foreign trade start to pay off, the decline of China's foreign trade has narrowed and the structure has been optimized. We have seen new development momentum and positive prospects for China's foreign trade development.

The 120th Canton Fair held in this situation requires us to implement the development concepts of innovation, coordination, green, opening, and sharing. Meanwhile, we should insist on global perspective, specialization, market orientation and information application; focus on improving the ability of organizing exhibition, marketing, and services in order to increase the brand influence of the Canton Fair and make contributions to the development of China’s foreign trade.

Now, I will brief you on the basic facts of the 120th Canton Fair.

1. Exhibition scale remains stable

The 120th Canton Fair is still held in three phases with a total exhibition area of 1.18 million square meters, and the number of booths is 60,250. There are 24,553 exhibitors from home and abroad. Phase 1 is from Oct 15th to 19th, showing Machinery and Electronics, Hardware and Tools, Building Materials, etc. Phase 2 is from Oct 23rd to27th, showing Daily Consumer Goods and Gifts. Phase 3 is from Oct 31st to Nov 4th, showing Textile and Garment, Cases and Bags, Stationary & Sports Products, Food, Medical and Health Products.

In this session, there are 59,252 booths and 23,938 exhibitors in the National Pavilion. 16 categories of products will be exhibited in 50 sections. The booth arrangement is as follows: 11,925 brand booths and 47,327 general booths, taking up 20% and 80% respectively. And the numbers of exhibitors in 3 phases are: 8,548 in Phase, 7,151 in Phase 2, and 8,239 in Phase 3.

In this session, we continue to set up the International Pavilion in Phase 1 and Phase 3, with an area of 20,000 square meters. There are 998 booths and 6 product zones, and 615 enterprises from 40 countries and regions, among which 361 enterprises are from the Belt and Road countries.

2. Improve specialization of the exhibition

In recent years, we have been improving specialization of the Canton Fair. In this session, we will advance specialization in the following 4 aspects. Firstly, optimize the division of sections. We will set up 124 product zones in 27 sections and improve product categories in Building Materials, Machinery, Hardware and Tools, Textiles and Garment, Medical and Health Products. Secondly, strengthen the National Pavilion. We have totally 1742 brand enterprises. Thirdly, nurture new themes. We will cultivate new exhibition themes such as New Energy and Pet Products and select better and stronger exhibitors to improve the exhibition quality. Fourthly, integrate the National and International Pavilion. Exhibitors of Electronics and Household Appliances, Fabric and Home Textile will compete on the same stage.

3. Enhance international marketing

In this session, we will improve international marketing and invite high quality buyers to attend. Firstly we will enhance marketing on international social media, like Facebook and LinkedIn. Secondly we will step up promotion through search engines such as Google, Yahoo, etc. Thirdly we will drive the Internet Promotion Campaign. We have held 16 video promotion conferences in 15 countries. Fourthly we will enhance the i-Invite series activity. Fifthly we also cooperate with a number of airlines to provide special offer for overseas buyers. Sixthly, we will increase invitation to VIP buyers, especially those from the Belt and Road countries. As for buyers with 30 times’ attendance, we will invite them according to regions and their business lines.

4. Enrich functions of the Fair

In this session, focusing on national policy, market hot topics and demands of enterprises, we will hold 23 conferences and forums with 5 topics: industry summit, fashion tendency, design innovation, R&D, branding. Meanwhile, there will be activities to provide discussion opportunities for designers and companies including design show, design matchmaking, fashion show and innovative design forum etc. 94 design agencies from 14 countries will participate, with an exhibition area of 1665㎡. The selection for the 2016 CF Awards has also completed, with 72 winning products from 57 companies. The awarding ceremony will be held on October 24th.

5. Advance “Smart Canton Fair”

We will drive the “Canton Fair + Internet” action plan, and strengthen the support system of hardware and software, create online-offline integrated service based on a new business model including smart service, smart business travel, Canton Fair certification, and enterprise promotion. We will also enhance on-site interaction experience, and improve service. We will launch a new version of the official website and update “Exhibitors News” and “Focus of Visitors”. We will provide new smart service and online business, creating a more convenient business environment.

6. Construct a fair trade environment

In this session, we continue to strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights and a “Notice” will be sent to the exhibitors with records of alleged infringement of IPR and trade disputes. In addition, we will strengthen their self-correction and avoid infringement and trade disputes. Meanwhile, we will continue to invite law enforcement officers of IPR and experts of trade disputes arbitration and mediation to handle the complaints.

7. Achieve the goal of green development

In the 120th Canton Fair, we will get down to perfecting reward and punishment system, strengthening guiding, providing thematic training and strengthening review of the custom-built booths; we will promote green booth setting-up, ensuring the achievement of 100% green booths. Through advocating green booths, green conferences and green venue, we devote ourselves to leading green, low-carbon and energy saving development in the exhibition industry.

8. Ensure safety and security

In this session, we will highlight security work and improve the emergency management and report system to enhance the capacity for contingencies. Also, the security system of the Complex will be improved, with the whole Complex monitored through video surveillance system. We will also improve food safety guarantee and the inspection and supervision of restaurants in the Complex, ensuring food safety of the participants. We will maintain and upgrade fire prevention facilities to lay a solid foundation for Complex safety. We will make a comprehensive schedule about exhibition dismantling and replacement to make sure it will be carried out orderly, smoothly and safely. 

9. Reduce the cost for exhibitors

In the 120th Fair we will continue to implement measures by the Ministry of Commerce to support steady growth of foreign trade. We will reduce the cost for exhibitors by the same extent as in the 119th session, saving 240 million Yuan.

At last, I'd like to brief you the major events in the next few days.

The Opening Reception of the 120th Canton Fair will be held in Westin Hotel in the evening of October 14th.

Innovation and Development of Foreign Trade Forum and the 2016 Canton Fair Design Awarding Ceremony will be held in the No.8 Meeting Room, Area B in the afternoon of October 24th.

Australian New Product Launch and Cross-border E-commerce Matchmaking will be held in the No.8 Meeting Room, Area B in the afternoon of November 1st.

Dear friends, we believe that under the leadership of Party Committee of the Ministry of Commerce and the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, with the joint efforts of all foreign traders, we will make the 120th Canton Fair a complete success. The 120th session will also be a new starting point for further reform and innovation, and greater contribution to the sustained and sound development of China's foreign trade. 

Welcome to cover the 120th session of the Canton Fair. Thank you!

Article Source: cantonfair