The 101st Canton Fair will be held from April 15 to 30 in Guangzhou and, starting this year, will change its official name from Chinese Export Commodities Fair (CECF) to Chinese Import & Export Commodities Fair (CIECF).  In addition to overseas buyers and domestic exhibitors, this year's Fair will attract a large number of overseas exhibitors and Chinese buyers.  

It is expected the number of foreign visitors during the fair would greatly increase. At present over 10,000 foreign businessmen have booked hotel rooms, airplane tickets or train tickets through travel agencies. Over 4,000 have bought tour packages to visit scenic attractions within Guangdong Province an increase of 20% over the same time of last year.

Over the past 50 years, the Canton Fair has been a window to China's export industry and the participants have been mainly domestic exhibitors and overseas buyers. At last year's Canton Fair opening ceremony, Premier Wen Jiabao announced that from the 101st session, the official name would be changed to "The Chinese Import and Export Commodities Fair". The name change also means that starting this year, overseas exhibitors and Chinese buyers will participate in the Fair side by side.

Editor: Yan