CGTN:129th Canton Fair moves online due to pandemic

This article was originally published on CGTN on April 2nd with the title "China's Trade and Commerce: The 129th Import and Export Fair moves online due to pandemic". 

China will host its 129th China Import and Export Fair online from April 15th to the 24th due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The event is considered a key indicator of wellbeing for China's trade and commerce. It's the 3rd time it's being hosted online because of COVID-19. About 25,000 Chinese businesses will participate in the 129th Import and Export Fair, including more than 300 overseas ones from nearly 30 countries and regions. They'll display more than 2.6 million items in total, covering 16 categories of goods, from consumer goods and building materials, to home decorations. The fair expects to attract buyers from about 220 countries and regions. The online exhibitors will not only be able to show pictures of their products, but can also do online live-streaming to demonstrate their goods, and hold online video negotiations with their potential buyers. The China Import and Export Fair started in 1957. It's the country's largest comprehensive trade fair with the longest history, and the largest number of overseas buyers and product categories. 

CHU SHIJIA Director General, China Foreign Trade Center "The China Import and Export Fair will help to stabilize global industrial supply chains through friendly interactions between Chinese enterprises and foreign ones. And since the pandemic has not been brought totally under control, some countries, especially developing ones, are still in urgent need of medical supplies. This event will make the purchase of those goods easier and faster, so as to strengthen global cooperation against the pandemic. The event will also attract many countries along the Belt and Road Initiative and from the recently signed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. It will facilitate the implementation and early fruition of such cooperation."