Over 7,600 foreign visitors from 151 countries have come to
participate in the ongoing 93rd China Export Commodities Fair.
The biannual fair, the country's largest foreign trade event, which
opened on April 15 and will close on April 30, is being held in the
capital of south China's Guangdong Province.
German businessman Gerd Obermeit said that he had made the decision
to attend the fair after careful consideration and he felt he made
the right choice.
Actually, many foreign visitors think it wise to participate in the
fair since it groups nearly every type of China's export
commodities.
China has become a crucial link in global supply chains. Statistics
from Chinese customs departments show that the country registered a
total export volume of US$86.32 billion in the first quarter of
this year, 33.5 percent higher than that of the same period last
year.
In
an exhibition hall covering 310,000 square meters, over 9,000
domestic suppliers are displaying a great variety of export
commodities, including toys, textiles, home electric appliances,
medicines, foodstuffs and mineral products.
"The commodities here are inexpensive and varied. They are also
popular among consumers," Gerd said.
Gerd and his companions soon settled on a six-unit set of sound
equipment priced at US$125, considering it to be of sound quality
and appropriately priced.
Chinese participants are also using attractively-designed booths to
attract foreign customers.
Yu
Haowei, general manager with Shanghai Yuchuang International Trade
Co., Ltd., said that the display of computer fittings and software
and digital equipment in his booth prove to be very attractive.
Thus far, hundreds of overseas businessmen have asked him for
information on these products.
"We've already signed an agreement to export US$100,000 in computer
fittings to Israel, and we've got the down payment," Yu said.
Some countries and areas even launched commercial promotional
activities at the fair in a bid to attract China's top
manufacturers and traders.
Othman Samin, Malaysian general consul in Guangzhou, and Tain Kai
Hee, secretary of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, also
came to the fair Wednesday afternoon to promote business
opportunities in Malaysia.
"I
was concerned about SARS before I came, but everything is in good
order here and people don't wear masks," said Tain, who expressed
his hope that trade between China and Malaysia would not be
affected.
Turkish businessman Gokhan Barin expressed great confidence in the
Chinese government's efforts to combat the disease. He said, "I
believe that SARS is effectively contained here."
(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2003)