Xinhua | Updated: 2023-05-06 09:39

Visitors to the 133rd session of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. [PHOTO by PARKER ZHENG/CHINA DAILY]

GUANGZHOU -- The on-site activities of the 133rd China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) concluded on Friday in the southern city of Guangzhou, after seeing brisk business and record foot traffic, according to one of the fair's organizers.

The China Foreign Trade Center said that this iteration of the longstanding event occupied an area of 1.5 million square meters, with 35,000 companies participating offline and foot traffic exceeding 2.9 million people. All figures set new records.

During the offline exhibitions, export deals worth a total of $21.69 billion were signed, which was better than expected, according to fair spokesperson Xu Bing.

The event attracted overseas buyers from more than 220 countries and regions either online or offline. Nearly 130,000 buyers attended the offline exhibitions, with approximately half coming from countries along the Belt and Road.

The event highlighted the fact that Chinese manufacturing is constantly moving toward the higher end of the global value chain, demonstrating the resilience and vitality of China's foreign trade, Xu said.