Photo: Nanfang Plus
It's another year of the Canton Fair, and participants are coming from all over the world. This year's Canton Fair, with rich elements of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), showcases China's firm determination to open up to the outside world and its strong confidence in promoting high-quality development. Over the past half-century, the Canton Fair has witnessed fast and prosperous development in China's foreign trade and has recorded the glorious journey of Chinese enterprises sailing to the world and going global. Especially since the BRI was put forward, the Canton Fair has become an important platform for the construction of the BRI and has continuously promoted China's higher-level opening up to the outside world.
A New Engine for International Cooperation: Canton Fair Reactivates “Globalization”
Throughout the ages, trade and cultural exchanges have been the driving force behind fostering the prosperity of many civilizations. Trade networks such as the ancient Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road have advanced economic ties and cultural integration between different regions. After entering the era of globalization, closer relations between countries and more diverse modes of cooperation have facilitated the cross-border flow of information, resources, and talent. This has not only promoted economic prosperity but also accelerated the exchange and sharing of cultural diversity. Looking back at the 20th century, globalization has brought benefits to people around the world and has also enabled different countries and nationalities to escape poverty and move towards modernization. The Canton Fair has also become an important platform for trade and emotional exchange among people from different countries, witnessing friendships between different countries grow closer. However, in recent years, the world has become turbulent and ever-changing. Geopolitical tensions and competition are becoming increasingly fierce. The "anti-globalization" trend has emerged in the international community. The United States and some Western countries have initiated trade protectionism and have sanctioned and cracked down on countries that disagree with them. This has led to fluctuations in the financial market and disruptions in the global supply chain. Such hegemonic practices run counter to the trend of globalization and are not conducive to world peace and development. Some scholars have commented that globalization is gradually losing momentum due to the actions of the United States and Western countries.
Mountains can't stop a river dead in its tracks, and it continues to flow towards the east. Against this backdrop, the opening of the Canton Fair has played an important role in boosting the world, especially non-Western developing countries, including most of the Belt and Road countries. It has released a very positive signal of exchange and cooperation. Currently, 144,000 overseas buyers from 215 countries and regions have pre-registered for the Canton Fair, with buyers from the Belt and Road countries increasing by 45.9%. The Canton Fair is not only a platform for displaying trade products but also a window for international exchange to promote international cooperation and common development. It is expected that this Canton Fair will further promote trade exchange, mutual trust, and cooperation among countries. Furthermore, economic cooperation among the countries and regions along the Belt and Road has become more closely integrated. Exhibitors, buyers, and delegations from all over the world will discuss cooperation opportunities and inject new momentum into international trade cooperation. In this era when the momentum of globalization seems to be declining, the Canton Fair has become a new engine for international cooperation.
Interconnecting the Global Economy: the Belt and Road Cooperation for Multi-Communication and Multi-Win
The most dynamic region in the world is along the Belt and Road. BRI runs through not only the four ancient civilizations, but also the most populous, economically promising, and dynamic countries in the world. BRI is not only a platform for regional cooperation but also an important part of building a multilateral cooperation mechanism, promoting the process of globalization, and realizing win-win economic global cooperation. With the support of the Five-Pronged Approach of BRI (policy coordination, connectivity of infrastructure and facilities, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and strengthened people-to-people ties), the Canton Fair actively promotes the development of the domestic circle and has become the epitome of China's high-quality economic development. It is not only the barometer and wind vane of China's foreign trade industry but also a window to observe the globalization of Chinese enterprises. This year's Canton Fair boasts more than 5,500 high-quality and distinctive enterprises, including enterprises with titles such as National High-tech Enterprise, Manufacturing Single Champion, Specialized and Sophisticated Small Giant, etc., an increase of 20% over the last Canton Fair. The exhibition activities held by the Canton Fair not only promote industrial upgrading and optimize the industrial structure but also further enhance the connection between domestic and foreign markets and unleash the potential of domestic economic demand.
Through the Canton Fair, an international trade platform, the economic cooperation between China and the countries along the Belt and Road has been deepening, and the expansion of external market demand has provided more development opportunities for the domestic industry, and at the same time provided a new motivation for China's economic growth. In the context of globalization, China has deeply integrated into the international economic system and actively participated in the global value chain, which has enhanced its international competitiveness and influence. This deepening of domestic and international economic cooperation not only promotes the sustainable and healthy development of China's economy but also creates more opportunities for cooperation among countries around the world, achieving multi-channel construction and win-win cooperation. The sustained and healthy development of China's economy has provided a strong impetus for global economic growth and at the same time has provided a huge market and numerous investment opportunities for countries around the world. Especially against the backdrop of the current global economy facing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, China's market and investment have provided strong support for the economic recovery of the world. Through such cooperation, enterprises can share the development opportunities of the Chinese market and realize mutual benefits.
Collaborating for Shared Development: Canton Fair Promotes the Prosperity of Global Economic
Over the past half century, the Canton Fair, with its unique charm and openness, has played an important role in promoting multilateral trade cooperation, enhancing cultural exchange, expanding market opportunities, and continuously promoting the prosperity of the global economy. Here, we can see the latest technology products, the most cutting-edge design concepts, and the hottest market trends. The success of every Canton Fair attracts thousands of domestic and foreign merchants to exhibit and purchase, promoting the exchange of goods and services, accelerating the cycle of global trade, and actively playing its leading role in economic globalization. Here, we can also see familiar "friends," getting to know each other and growing together at the Canton Fair. For example, in the list of participants of this Canton Fair, there are international students from Dominica. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and The Commonwealth of Dominica. Looking back on the past two decades, the relationship between China and The Commonwealth of Dominica has maintained a high level of development, with in-depth exchanges and fruitful results in many fields such as the economy, trade, and culture, becoming a model of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, common development, and win-win cooperation among countries regardless of size.
As an important platform for China's foreign trade, the Canton Fair not only carries the mission of promoting economic and trade exchanges among countries but also demonstrates the vision of the international community in pursuing peaceful development and leads the peaceful trend of harmonious coexistence through economic cooperation. The grand attendance at the Canton Fair reflects not only the prospect of economic and trade development between China and foreign countries but also the deep friendship among countries that are eager for exchanges and friendly cooperation. China has always adhered to the notion of peace and development, actively participated in global economic and trade cooperation, promoted the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, and contributed to global economic prosperity and sustainable development through win-win cooperation.
The organization of the Canton Fair has contributed Chinese wisdom and strength to the construction of an open economy and witnessed the firm determination of countries to move forward together under the BRI. Looking ahead, the Canton Fair will uphold the mission of openness and inclusiveness, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, unimpeded trade, connect markets, continue to promote international business cooperation, draw a blueprint for development, and help the global economy move towards a new era of more openness, inclusiveness, and sustainability.
Commentators | Ma Liming, Li Yuan, Cai Jianing
Translator | Jiang Shuang
