Guests communicate before the opening ceremony of the 140th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), held in Guangzhou, South China"s Guangdong Province on October 14, 2026. Photo: CNS Photo

　　Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a congratulatory letter to the 140th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair. In his letter, Xi said over the past 70 years since its establishment, the Canton Fair has played a significant role in promoting trade exchanges between China and other countries, serving as an effective platform for China to expand high-level opening up and promote the building of an open world economy.

　　An opening ceremony for the 140th session was held on Wednesday. Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended the ceremony and delivered a keynote speech, emphasizing that China will continue to promote high-quality development, expand high-standard opening up, and take proactive and practical actions to add more impetus to the world economy.

　　He said China stands ready to share more market opportunities, expand more mutually beneficial cooperation, and firmly safeguard the international economic and trade order with all parties.

　　Participants at the opening ceremony, including representatives of exhibitors and buyers, echoed that the Canton Fair has grown into a significant trade platform for people from all over the world to match supply and demand. The 70-year journey of the Canton Fair is a vivid microcosm of China"s transition from "selling to the world" to "linking the global supply chain."