The Canton Fair is a barometer of China's foreign trade, and the voices of the Canton Fair exhibitors can most truly and directly reflect the current situation of foreign trade exports. On the morning of the 26th, the Ministry of Commerce held a symposium with exhibitors from the second phase of the Canton Fair, attended by Yi Xiaozhun, Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy Director of the Canton Fair.

The symposium invited 15 enterprise representatives who participated in the second phase of the Canton Fair, covering industries such as stainless steel products, glass products, ceramic products, furniture, and toys. Enterprise representatives reported their participation in this session, the opportunities and difficulties they currently face, and put forward some suggestions.

In summarizing the characteristics of this Canton Fair, representatives generally reflected that the number of buyers attending this session has increased compared to the previous two sessions. Although some European and American buyers were unable to attend as planned due to the impact of the Icelandic volcanic eruption, buyers from emerging markets have increased significantly. Secondly, affected by factors such as rising raw material prices and labor costs, product transaction prices have slightly increased, but because the price increase is not enough to compensate for the increase in costs, the profit margin of enterprises is squeezed, and the operating pressure is increased. Enterprise representatives also reflected that the order placement speed of buyers in the second phase has accelerated, mainly because after the financial crisis, the inventory in the European and American markets has been basically digested, and the phenomenon of buyers replenishing goods has increased. Enterprise representatives believe that foreign trade growth has recovered in the first quarter, and hope to maintain a relatively stable foreign trade environment.

After listening to the representatives' speeches, Vice Minister Yi Xiaozhun said that China's foreign trade policy will remain basically stable this year, and the RMB exchange rate, which everyone is concerned about, will also remain basically stable. He said that through the assessment of the overall situation of the first two phases of this Canton Fair, it can be confirmed that the popularity has increased, the confidence of enterprises has increased, and the international market is gradually recovering. However, we must also clearly recognize that the foreign trade situation this year still has uncertainties and complexities, and we cannot be blindly optimistic. Enterprises and local commerce departments should be prepared to deal with various difficulties and challenges, strengthen the pertinence of their work, and improve the effectiveness of their response.

Yi Xiaozhun said that through the investigation of exhibitors and products in the past few days, it can be found that enterprises have made many efforts in strengthening innovation, independent research and development, improving product grades and added value, and have also achieved certain achievements, which is a welcome phenomenon. He encouraged enterprises to combine the characteristics of their own industries and enterprises, accelerate the transformation and upgrading of products, improve the pricing and bargaining power of enterprises in the international market, and enhance the international competitiveness of enterprises.