The first phase of the 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair recently concluded in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, with 114 companies from Jinan participating across 209 booths.

The fair, also known as the Canton Fair, was established in 1957 and is held twice a year in Guangzhou. It is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trade events in China and has been hailed as the barometer of China's foreign trade.

This year's fair is divided into three phases: the first focused on advanced manufacturing, the second on quality home furnishings, and the third on products that promote a better quality of life, involving a total of 172 product zones.

During the first phrase, the Jinan delegation welcomed over 26,000 overseas buyers-a 16-percent increase from the previous session-mainly from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and counties involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Major Jinan enterprises like Inspur, Sinotruk, Joyoung, and Senfeng Laser showcased their innovative products and technologies and secured record-breaking orders.