The on-site activities of the 133rd China Import and Export Fair commenced on April 15 in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province.

The long-standing event, also dubbed the Canton Fair, will run until May 5 in three phases.

With the exhibition area and number of exhibitors at record highs, the fair welcomes purchasers from over 220 countries and regions, covering markets in Europe, the United States, and emerging markets along the Belt and Road.

This year's offline exhibition venues, spanning 1.5 million square meters, will host close to 70,000 booths for about 35,000 exhibitors.

The export section will accommodate around 5,700 firms with leading brands or technologies. The import section will present 508 companies from 40 countries and regions, such as the United States, Canada, Italy, Germany, and Spain.

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