Decades of good ethics in practice

Throughout the six decades of its history, the Canton Fair has been a showcase of trustworthy products made in China due to its focus on contractual obligations.

From the beginning, the nation's leaders have required manufacturers and traders to abide by contracts and maintain good faith to increase the recognition of Chinese products on the overseas market.

Premier Zhou Enlai (1898-1976) visited the fair in the late 1950s. He urged Chinese traders to "honor their promises according to the contracts even if they might incur losses, otherwise the nation's reputation might be damaged".

In June 1959, under the instruction of Premier Zhou, the Ministry of Foreign Trade issued a regulation, requiring the organizers of the Canton Fair to examine every contract set to be signed and regularly check the quality of products to be delivered.

In the years that followed, the nation's authorities and the event's organizers took further measures to ensure that overseas buyers would receive satisfactory commodities according to contract.

These measures include: engaging multiple ministries and institutions in issuing regulations relating to contract enforcement, asking for comments from overseas buyers and rewarding trustworthy enterprises.

Since the 1990s, the Canton Fair has placed great importance on intellectual property rights protection.

In 1997, an IPR protection organization was founded for the Canton Fair.

By strengthening education, improving an institutional system and enhancing supervision, the Canton Fair has played an exemplary role in combating IPR infringements and safeguarding transactions.