Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao announced in Guangzhou on Sunday
that the 50-year-old Chinese Export Commodities Fair will be known
as the Chinese Import and Export Commodities Fair from its next
run.
Established in 1957, the event, also known as the Canton Fair,
is a biannual event held in spring and autumn. Wen said the new
name will apply from its 101st session in 2008.
The name-change aims to facilitate the expansion of China's
import industry, and at the same time pushing for the balanced
development of China's foreign trade, Wen said.
He added that China will resolutely abide by its opening-up
policy by encouraging Chinese companies to invest abroad and
welcoming foreign companies to invest in China.
China will perfect its economic rules and laws concerning
foreign business, continue to improve intellectual property rights
protection, and create a fair environment for all companies.
Wen described the Canton Fair as a showcase of China's reform
and opening up drive and emphasized that the country cannot develop
without the cooperation of the rest of the world.
He added that the fair is a key element of China's opening up
drive and is an important part of China's overall "win-win"
strategy.
He pointed out that the country abides by World Trade
Organization (WTO) regulations and actively participates in
building a global multilateral trade mechanism.
The 15-day fair was officially opened on Sunday morning with its
31,408 standard booths, 1,350 more than during the spring session.
More than 14,000 businesses are participating this season, a record
for the fair.?
The exhibition hall on Liuhua Road will feature 452 booths
offering medicines and 6,518 booths selling textiles. At the Bazhou
Exhibition hall, industrial commodities, including household
appliances, electronic products and cars will be displayed at 8,229
booths.
(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2006)