Xie Yingjun:

Thank you, Ms. Guo. Now the floor is open to questions. Please identify the news outlet you work for before asking your question.  

China Financial and Economic News:

The 135th China Import and Export Fair is currently being held. Could you please describe the current situation at the Canton Fair? Thank you.

Guo Tingting:

Thank you for your attention to the Canton Fair. The 135th Canton Fair is currently being held. Recently, Chinese Premier Li Qiang inspected the fair and presided over two consecutive symposiums, engaging in in-depth exchanges with overseas buyers and representatives from firms participating in the fair. This fully reflects the significant importance the CPC Central Committee and the State Council attach to the Canton Fair and foreign trade.

We will fully implement the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to ensure the success of the Canton Fair. This aims to provide more high-quality products for consumers worldwide, offer more cooperation opportunities for enterprises globally, and inject new momentum into the recovery of the global economy and trade.

Today is also the last day of the first phase of the 135th Canton Fair, which has been characterized by four main features in terms of exhibitor and participant attendance as well as negotiations.

First, there has been a high attendance of overseas buyers. As of yesterday, approximately 120,000 overseas buyers attended the fair, marking a 22.7% increase over the previous session. Second, the composition of exhibitors has been further optimized. The number of national-level high-tech enterprises and specialized single-product manufacturers attending the first phase increased by 33% compared to the previous session. The number of high-tech enterprises involved in smart living, the "new three" (namely electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and solar cells), and industrial automation rose by 24.4%. Third, the exhibits have better reflected the development of new quality productive forces. Over 90,000 AI products were displayed during the first phase of the fair, and transactions involving industrial automation equipment and new energy vehicles significantly increased, with some even doubling from the previous session. Fourth, the functionality of online platforms has been further improved. The online platforms of the fair continue to operate regularly. Up to yesterday, about 294,000 buyers from 229 countries and regions participated in the fair online.

I would also like to extend another invitation to our media friends here. The Canton Fair will continue with its second and third phases, which will be held in Guangzhou from April 23 to 27 and May 1 to 5, respectively. These phases will showcase consumer goods, gifts, decorations, textiles, and other products. We welcome everyone to continue following and providing in-depth coverage of the fair. Thank you.