People examine new energy vehicles at the 136th Canton Fair in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, on November 4, 2024. Photo: VCG

As of Tuesday, over 170,000 overseas buyers from 210 countries and regions had registered to attend the 137th session of the China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, which will be held from April 15 to May 5, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Wednesday at a press conference. 

The strong participation of international buyers, especially amid an increasingly complex and uncertain international economic and trade environment, demonstrated many global businesses' solid confidence in China's manufacturing sectors, massive market and opening-up, according experts. 

About 72 percent of the registered buyers for the 137th Canton Fair are from Belt and Road Initiative partner countries, 27.4 percent are from BRICS countries, 11.7 percent from Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership members, 14.3 percent from the Middle East and 10.5 percent from Europe and the Americas, according to the MOFCOM.

As of Wednesday, 223 companies from the Global Retail 250 ranking, alongside major buyers from various countries and regions, have confirmed their delegations' attendance, a 9.9 percent increase from the last session in October 2024, Zhang Sihong, deputy director-general of the China Foreign Trade Center, the organizer of the fair, said on Wednesday at the press conference.

Leading global enterprises from the US, France, the UK, Germany, and other countries such as Walmart, Carrefour, Metro, Tesco, Nitori and Cencosud have registered to participate, according to Zhang. 

A total of 124 overseas business delegations have officially registered for group participation, including the Canada China Business Council, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, and Argentina-China Chamber of Commerce, representing a 4 percent increase compared to the previous session, according to Zhang.

The strong participation of global buyers fully demonstrates the international business community's confidence in the Canton Fair and "Made in China," said Zhang. "This reflects that people worldwide remain unwavering in their pursuit of better lives and high-quality, cost-effective products. The historical trend of economic globalization remains irreversible."

As one of China's flagship trade events, the Canton Fair will continue to power the nation's export growth while connecting Chinese manufacturers with worldwide buyers, Zhu Qiucheng, CEO of Ningbo New Oriental Electric Industrial Development, also a Canton Fair participant, told the Global Times.

The Canton Fair has become more than a window for Chinese manufacturers, but also one for global enterprises to match with worldwide buyers.
 
According to Zhang, the 137th Canton Fair will provide about 1,600 booths for 736 overseas enterprises from 50 countries and regions.

"This reflects China's commitment to opening-up and multilateralism, which will contribute to global trade, especially under the shadow of US trade protectionism and tariff measures," said Zhu.

China will only open its doors wider to the world. "We remain steadfast in practicing true multilateralism, safeguarding the global trade order and partnering with more trading nations for shared prosperity. These efforts will inject greater stability into worldwide trade growth," said MOFCOM official Xiao Lu at the press conference on Wednesday.

China's foreign trade sector is fully confident and capable of navigating various risks and challenges. This confidence stems from a solid foundation, new growth drivers and the "golden key" - China's unwavering commitment to opening-up, said Xiao. 

"Since the beginning of 2025, China's foreign trade sector has faced heightened risks and challenges. However, Chinese exporters and importers have proactively pursued innovation and adaptation, while trade facilitation policies have continued to yield positive results. This resilience enabled China's trade sector to achieve a stable performance in the first quarter," said Xiao.

She noted that the global economy faces substantial uncertainty, particularly in trade, where supply chain stability is under threat. The OECD has warned that escalating trade barriers from a broadening "trade war" could reduce global economic growth by 0.2 percentage points to 3.1 percent in 2025.

Notably, the OECD simultaneously revised its 2025 growth forecast for China upward by 0.1 percentage points, recognizing the positive effects of China's economic policies. This comparison reflects growing international confidence in China's economic prospects, said Xiao.

Huo Jianguo, a vice chairman of the China Society for World Trade Organization Studies in Beijing, told the Global Times that China's foreign trade continues to build on the growth momentum seen in 2024 and in the first quarter, as China's high-quality products are welcomed by consumers worldwide, boosted by the advantages of China's massive market and its comprehensive industrial system.
Analysts also pointed out that China's trade events will continue to provide growth drivers and help support global exporters.

In this year's Government Work Report, China said that it would work for the stable development of foreign trade, including hosting major trade events with high standards, such as the China International Import Expo, the China Import and Export Fair, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, the Global Digital Trade Expo and the China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE).

The CICPE, to be held from April 13 to 18, will run in parallel with the Canton Fair, both providing open platforms for global importers and exporters. According to the MOFCOM, this year's CICPE will feature expanded international participation and first-time innovations.