The 140th Canton Fair officially opened on October 14, ahead of the exhibition's first day welcoming buyers on October 15 in Guangzhou, southern China. This year marks 70 years since the fair was first held in 1957.

The first phase, running until October 19, focuses on advanced manufacturing. Covering 520,000 square meters, it features more than 25,000 booths and over 12,000 companies across 19 exhibition areas, including electronics, industrial automation, electric vehicles and smart mobility. More than 11,000 participating companies are high-tech firms, specialized manufacturers or industry leaders.

Technology is a major draw, with 17 dedicated zones for emerging industries such as service robots, drones and display technology. Visitors can see humanoid robots, robotic dogs, AI translation devices and other new products.

This year also brings several firsts. For the first time, the fair has a dedicated area for new product launches, with more than 700 launch events planned, a 15% increase. New digital services include booth-level navigation across the entire venue and augmented reality displays that let visitors scan booths for company and product information.

As it celebrates its 70th anniversary, the Canton Fair continues to connect global buyers with Chinese manufacturers and the latest developments in the country's industries.