The Canton Fair has developed into a comprehensive show for two-way trade since it changed its official name from the China Export Commodities Fair to the China Import and Export Fair and set up an International Pavilion for imported goods in 2007.

It has better met overseas suppliers' demands in exploring the Chinese market, offered new options for Chinese buyers and brought new products and associated lifestyles to the Chinese people.

In October 2006, then Chinese premier Wen Jiabao announced at the 100th Canton Fair that the event would be renamed the China Import and Export Fair, showing the Chinese government's efforts to balance trade, with equal emphasis placed on imports and exports.

Chinese Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng said the renaming is by far the most important reform in the history of the fair, which is expected to increase the event's influence and enrich its portfolio.

The strategic move makes the fair a comprehensive platform for two-way trade, according to the China Foreign Trade Centre, which organizes the event.

The CFTC said the International Pavilion has provided an opportunity for overseas enterprises to better understand the Chinese market and make deals with domestic buyers.

During the past decade, the Canton Fair's International Pavilion has grown substantially in both scale and influence.

According to the organizer, the first International Pavilion was held during the 101st Canton Fair and offered 629 standard booths for 314 exhibitors from 36 countries and regions in an area totaling 10,400 square meters. The exhibition area increased to 15,000 sq m at the 102nd event and 20,000 sq m at the 108th Canton Fair.

In the past 10 years, more than 10,000 companies from 108 countries have attended the Canton Fair to exhibit their products. Countries such as India, Turkey, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Germany, Australia, Argentina and Vietnam have regularly sent national delegations to attend the trade exhibitions.

In the process, the organizer said it has accumulated extensive experience in organizing the exhibition.

Since the very first International Pavilion in 2007, the organizer has cooperated with leading local logistics companies to serve exhibitors, helping them to transport products and equipment to the venue and to arrange exhibits.

In order to attract more exhibitors, the CFTC has partnered with Chinese embassies and other diplomatic missions in foreign countries, as well as local industrial associations to hold promotional events for the Canton Fair International Pavilion.

As China is implementing its Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives, more companies from regions along these traditional trade routes have shown growing interest in the International Pavilion.

According to the organizer, more than 58 percent of the exhibitors at the International Pavilion of the 118th Canton Fair last autumn were from Belt and Road countries and regions.

The CFTC said that inviting as many high-quality buyers as possible is crucial to the International Pavilion.

During the first International Pavilion in 2007, more than 6,000 domestic buyers were invited to meet overseas exhibitors.

During the 107th Canton Fair in 2010, a domestic purchase center was set up to facilitate transactions between suppliers and buyers.

In the years to follow, the CFTC has created more opportunities to better connect suppliers and buyers.

These include the combination of import and export shows in sectors such as electronics and textiles, and more networking events.

As the influence of the export show grows, more and more overseas companies view the event as an ideal springboard for entering the Chinese market.

Denish Kansagara is a senior executive at Sagar Polytechnik Ltd, an India-based manufacturer and exporter of industrial pipes. He said he has attended every session of the International Pavilion in recent years.

"The Canton Fair is an ideal platform for the connection between Chinese and Indian manufacturers. We have secured a lot of orders during the fair's import shows," Kansagara said.

Shen Guanhong and Gan Jing contributed to the story.

(China Daily 10/10/2016 page6)