The 135th session of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, saw an increase in overseas purchasers compared with the previous edition, an official said on Friday.

As of Thursday, the number of overseas purchasers participating in the event reached around 120,000, jumping 22.7 percent from the same period during last year's fair, Vice Minister of Commerce Guo Tingting told a press conference in Beijing.

The online version of the Canton Fair continued to operate this year. About 294,000 overseas buyers from 229 countries and regions had participated in the online fair by Thursday, Guo said.

An influx of enthusiastic overseas buyers is not the only highlight of this year's fair; it also features an array of high-tech companies showcasing innovative products. More than 90,000 intelligent products were exhibited during the first phase of the fair this year, with transactions of industrial automation equipment and new energy vehicles increasing significantly over the previous edition.

The first phase of the 135th Canton Fair started on Monday and concludes in Guangzhou on Friday. The second and third phases of the fair will be held in the city from April 23-27 and from May 1-5, respectively, focusing on displaying products such as daily consumer goods, gifts, and home textiles.

Launched in 1957 and held twice yearly, the fair is considered a major gauge of China's foreign trade.