CFTC Working Group Promotes Canton Fair in the US

From Sept 15 to 17, 21 to 23, Zhuang Hong, Deputy Director General of China Foreign Trade Centre, led a working group and promoted Canton Fair in two important business city in southeastern and western America--Miami and Los Angeles. Through holding promotion conference, meeting with government departments and VIP buyers, signing Global Cooperative Agreement with chambers of commerce and industrial organizations, conducting survey in exhibition grounds and ports, the group enhanced their understanding of the dynamics of American market and furthered cooperation.

In Canton Fair Miami promotion conference, Zhuang Hong introduced the basic facts of 126 Canton Fair. He said, the US is Canton Fair’s second largest buyer source country and Canton Fair is a key bond for Sino-US trade development. In the new era, Canton Fair has become the world’s largest exhibition and is ready to pursue cooperation with American business community in various forms to jointly drive the development of the bilateral trade relations. Joe Chi, President of China Latin America Trade Center, said Canton Fair is the most professional and trustworthy platform for international trade. He is willing to share resources with the Fair, promote more American companies to attend the Fair and extend the Fair’s influence to Latin America and even Caribbean countries. Florida ST&R and Florida Foreign Trade Association both mentioned that the current US China cooperation is indeed impacted by the trade frictions; yet there are opportunities among crisis. Platform such as Canton Fair is needed to converge consensus, pursue cooperation and extend business opportunities.

The working group met with industrial and business organizations of Miami

At the Los Angeles promotion event, Zhuang Hong, on behalf of China Foreign Trade Centre, signed strategic cooperation agreement with US’s Global Chamber. The two parties will engage in pragmatic cooperation on information exchange, promotion, Internet Promotion Campaign and organizing delegations to attend the Fair.

CFTC signed strategic cooperation agreement with Global Chamber

The group also visited Miami-Dade County Economic Development & International Trade and Los Angeles mayor office. The two government agencies both advanced US China trade to boost local SME’s development. Miami-Dade County came up with cross border logistics service, and hoped to promote it to Chinese enterprises via Canton Fair so as to extend the business scope of Chinese companies to Central and Latin America. Los Angeles mayor office said, LA and Guangzhou are sister cities; the office is willing to enhance the connection between the two cities through Canton Fair.

Deputy Director General Zhuang Hong visited Los Angeles mayor office

In their business trip, the group also conducted survey in two important ports--Miami port and LA port, and talked about port handling capacity and trade volume to China since the China US trade friction, entrepot trade, change of trading mode, etc. General Manager of Port Miami Pererson said Miami Port is the US’s gateway to the Caribbean Sea and Latin American market. China is the port’s most important partner; he expected further cooperation with Chinese companies through Canton Fair. Marisela, Director of Trade Development Division of Port Los Angeles, pointed out that LA port is the largest port in the western hemisphere. The value of Chinese products handled here in this port totaled 150 billion dollars, accounting for 75% of the total cargo. Since the trade friction, LA port’s trade volume to China has declined. She hoped that disputes can be resolved in a sound manner by efforts of government and business community both sides to boost the development and trade relations.

The group conducted survey in Port Miami and Port Los Angeles

The group also visited Miamibeach Convention Center and Los Angeles Convention Center and exchanged ideas with their counterparts on operation mode, venue service and sustainable development of venues.

Deputy Director General Zhuang Hong talked with the person in charge of LA Convention Center

What’s more, the group visited Canton Fair’s VIP buyer, US’s second largest retailer—Target. In its largest store in LA, the group collected information on the operation mode of Target, sourcing channels, product variety and source, and sales of Chinese products.

The group visited Target

In their American trip, the group met with the Economic and Commercial Section of the Chinese Consulate General in LA and held in-depth talks on local market situation, trade cooperation and demands of local businessmen.