Premier Li Qiang Inaugurates 140th Canton Fair

The biannual 140th China Import and Export Fair — more commonly known as the Canton Fair — celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2026. The opening ceremony for the fall session was held on 14 October 2026, and the fair will take place from 15 October to 4 November 2026.

China’s Premier LI Qiang delivered the opening remarks on the first day. He recalled the humble beginnings of the Canton fair wich started with mostly low-value agricultural products to high-value technological products such as robotics and other #AI-enabled products. Canton Fair is also the oldest and largest international fair of China. He underscored that China is willing to import more quality products to rebalance the huge surplus.

Moreover, he underlined that China will uphold its policy of tariff reductions and is committed to trade more with the #GlobalSouth. He criticized the zero-sum mindset and put forward the win-win model, whereby the buyer and seller both stand to gain from the exchange. He reiterated China’s resolve to uphold multilateralism, the #WTO regulatory framework, and free trade.

A few days before the 140th Canton Fair opened, the Canton International Commercial Gateway project broke ground. The massive undertaking will require a massive RMB 33 billion ($4.8B) in investment. The Project covers an area of almost 10 square kilometers in the Huadu district of Guangzhou city.

The Gateway will seamlessly integrate various modes of transport, including the Baiyun airport, the Nansha seaport, and the Guangzhou train station and highways. It will be implemented over the coming decade, and the first phase is scheduled to open in 2028.

Guangzhou mayor SUN Zhiyang noted the city’s more than 2,000 years of history as a trading port. Guangzhou International Commerce Gateway Group Chairman LI Feng underlined that the project is a major initiative that will reinforce Guangzhou’s role as a commercial hub that is ready for the future.