The main international exhibitions in China are as follows:
(1) Canton Fair
The well-known “Canton Fair” is the full name of the China Import and Export Fair (English: The China Import and Export Fair), also known as the Canton Fair in English. Founded in the spring of 1957, it is held in Guangzhou every spring and autumn. As of 2014, it has a history of 57 years. It is currently China’s longest-running, highest-level, largest-scale, most comprehensive international trade fair with the most comprehensive commodity types, the largest number of visitors, and the best transaction results. Since the 101st Canton Fair in April 2007, it has been renamed from the China Export Commodities Fair to the China Import and Export Fair, and has changed from a single export platform to a two-way import and export trading platform. On October 15, 2012, the 112th Canton Fair opened. Although the global market is still in a state of continuous cooling, China’s traditional advantages in foreign trade development have not been fundamentally weakened.
The China Import and Export Fair consists of 48 trading groups, with thousands of foreign trade companies, manufacturing enterprises, scientific research institutes, foreign-invested/wholly-owned enterprises, and private enterprises with good credit and strong strength participating in the exhibition.
The China Import and Export Fair has flexible and diverse trading methods. In addition to the traditional sample transaction, it also holds online trade fairs (Virtual Expo, Online Exhibition). The Canton Fair focuses on export trade, but also does import business. It can also carry out various forms of economic and technical cooperation and exchanges, as well as business activities such as commodity inspection, insurance, transportation, advertising, and consulting. Merchants from all over the world gather in Guangzhou to exchange business information and enhance friendship.
Registration for the Canton Fair is generally handled by the local government department, the Commerce Bureau, which determines the participation qualifications and the number of booths allocated according to the annual import and export quota of the import and export enterprises. This is a high threshold for some small cross-border e-commerce enterprises that are just starting out.
(2) Yiwu Fair
As an important base for small commodity production, Zhejiang Province has a very developed export trade. Yiwu Small Commodity City is well-known both at home and abroad, and even many foreign merchants from the Middle East and Africa stationed in Yiwu for purchase. Since the requirements for registration and participation are relatively low and can be registered directly with the organizing committee, the Yiwu Expo has gradually become popular in recent years.
It is held in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province from October 21 to 25 every year. It is divided into seven major industries: hardware and machinery, daily necessities, electronic appliances, textiles, accessories and accessories, handicrafts, cultural and sports and outdoor leisure products. During the same period, many economic and trade activities such as Sino-foreign procurement negotiations will be held. So far, the Expo has attracted more than 100,000 buyers and more than 20,000 overseas merchants.
(3) China Zhejiang Business Service Trade Fair (Zhejiang Trade Fair)
It is worth noting that cross-border e-commerce exhibitions have also been included in the government’s exhibition planning and implementation in recent years. Innovation that keeps pace with the times has injected new connotations and vitality into cross-border e-commerce. For example, the Zhejiang Trade Fair hosted by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce is the first exhibition in Zhejiang Province that focuses on business services. It provides various services for Zhejiang enterprises in market expansion, business information services, corporate value enhancement, overseas investment, etc. As of 2015, it has been successfully held for 6 sessions.
The exhibition brings together excellent foreign trade comprehensive service platforms across the country, including Alibaba Yidatong, Rongyitong and other industry leaders, as well as the first batch of pilot enterprises of Zhejiang Province’s foreign trade comprehensive service platform. These enterprises mainly provide import and export enterprises with full-process services in all import and export links, including customs clearance finance, logistics, tax refunds, and foreign exchange settlement.