The 139th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) is currently taking place in Guangzhou and will run until May 5. In light of developments in the Middle East, the Fair has strengthened its support services and reaffirmed its dedication to linking buyers from the region with Chinese suppliers.

Sustained Engagement from Middle Eastern Buyers
Ahead of the event, Zhu Yong, Director General of the China Foreign Trade Centre, addressed concerns about participation from the Middle East. She acknowledged that attendance from the region has varied at some international exhibitions recently, but emphasized that interest in the Canton Fair remains robust.

This continued engagement is evident on the exhibition floor during Phase 1, where Middle Eastern buyers are actively उपस्थित. For instance, one buyer from Cairo traveled approximately 13 hours to attend, underscoring the importance of direct sourcing opportunities.

Tailored Services for Middle Eastern Participants
To accommodate those unable to attend in person, the Fair introduced a specialized service package for Middle Eastern buyers. This includes virtual sourcing meetings, Canton Fair Live Tour sessions on social media, and enhanced assistance for Middle Eastern businesses operating within China.

Additionally, the event invited regional vloggers and streamers to conduct live tours and matchmaking sessions, enabling buyers to engage remotely. A dedicated home appliance showcase during Phase 1 attracted significant international viewership and received strong positive responses from participants in the Middle East.

Exhibitors Respond to Regional Challenges
Exhibitors are contending with challenges linked to ongoing regional tensions, such as shipment delays, supply chain disruptions, and shortages of raw materials. In response, some have adopted diversified manufacturing strategies to ensure timely deliveries, while others have sought alternative sources for essential components.

Many exhibitors have also adapted their product offerings to reflect changing buyer preferences, particularly the rising demand for energy-efficient solutions. They used the Fair as a platform to highlight innovations in this area. Meanwhile, motorcycle manufacturers engaged directly with Middle Eastern buyers to address cost concerns, with electric models emerging as a key focus.

Amid a volatile global trade environment, the Canton Fair continues to serve as a vital platform for international collaboration, helping businesses build resilient partnerships that can withstand ongoing uncertainties.

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The 5th RCEP (Shandong) Import Commodities Expo opened today at Linyi International Expo Center, bringing together more than 5,300 buyers from China and abroad alongside over 400 exhibitors representing 48 countries. Coinciding with the nationwide rollout of the “China Quality Foreign Trade Products Nationwide Promotion” initiative, the event highlights Shandong’s efforts to better align domestic and international trade channels.

As Linyi Mall’s official digital trade platform, ChinaMarket played a key role at the event. On opening day, it facilitated several procurement matchmaking activities and formalized strategic partnerships with buyer groups from Argentina, South Korea, Ghana, and other regions. The platform demonstrated how digital tools can streamline global sourcing by connecting overseas demand with China’s specialized manufacturing clusters, particularly for RCEP and Southeast Asian markets.

Digital Matchmaking Enhances Efficiency
Using its “verified manufacturing cluster network + omni-channel distribution” approach, ChinaMarket allows international buyers to engage directly with vetted Chinese suppliers across industries such as construction materials, plastics, textiles, electronics, home appliances, and consumer goods. During the expo, buyer delegations from Argentina, South Korea, and Ghana held in-person discussions with manufacturers supported by real-time data displays and AI-enabled tools, resulting in multiple initial agreements.

An Argentine participant noted that the platform simplifies supplier discovery and reduces sourcing time, while a South Korean delegation praised the reliability and responsiveness of its curated industrial resources.

Addressing Financing Challenges in Cross-Border Trade
To overcome payment and financing barriers—especially for small and medium-sized enterprises—ChinaMarket has partnered with financial institutions to introduce “data + order financing” solutions. This model offers flexible funding options, lowers entry barriers, and reduces transactional risks for both buyers and sellers.

Advancing Agri-Tech Supply Chains
At the expo, ChinaMarket also entered into a strategic partnership with the Su Village Government in Yinan County, Linyi, to develop a digital agricultural industrial hub. By combining direct sourcing from origin with platform-based distribution, the initiative aims to expand market access for high-quality Shandong agricultural products while providing international buyers with transparent, traceable supply chains for fresh and processed goods.

Expanding Footprint Across Southeast Asia
The platform continues to grow its presence in Southeast Asia. In December 2025, it launched a digital marketplace in Malaysia, enabling local buyers to access more than 10,000 verified Chinese factories. In Indonesia, its Surabaya-based “country pavilion” has supported government procurement initiatives, including prefabricated housing projects, underscoring its capacity to manage complex, large-scale orders.

Quan Chuanxiao, Chairman of Depth Digital Technology Group and ChinaMarket, stated that the platform aims to act as a bridge between China’s industrial ecosystems and global markets by digitizing trade processes to improve transparency, efficiency, and reliability.

Strong On-Site Engagement
On the opening day alone, ChinaMarket participated in the launch ceremony, completed strategic agreements with international buyer groups, and organized a dedicated matchmaking session for Ghanaian buyers. The platform emphasized its integrated approach—combining supply-side industrial resources, omni-channel distribution, data-driven financial services, and targeted matchmaking—to meet global sourcing needs.

During the expo, ChinaMarket is operating two exhibition areas at Linyi International Expo Center—one in Hall 2 focused on quality foreign trade products and another in Hall 1 featuring the Ghana National Pavilion—where business discussions and sourcing sessions are continuing throughout the event.

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