Participation of His Excellency Deputy Mohamad Suleiman and the President of LCBA Mr. Ali EL Abdallah in the official opening ceremony of the 134th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair)
Participation of His Excellency Deputy Mohamad Suleiman and the President of LCBA Mr. Ali EL Abdallah in the official opening ceremony of the 134th China Import and Export Fair
(Canton Fair)
Beirut – October 17, 2023 – MP Mohamad Suleiman and Ali Mahmoud El Abdallah, President of the Lebanese-Chinese Business Association, participated in the official opening ceremony of the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China, the largest fair of its kind in the world, held in its 134th session. MP Suleiman and El Abdallah were the only representatives of Lebanon at the opening ceremony. The event was attended by numerous Chinese and international figures, including Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shuan, Director General of the China Foreign Trade Center Alan Liu, Deputy Director of the China Foreign Trade Center Yu Yi, and Guangzhou Governor Zhang Xin.
During the event, Suleiman and El Abdallah held bilateral meetings with several Chinese officials participating in the fair’s opening. Discussions focused on enhancing economic cooperation between Lebanon and China, particularly between the private sectors of both countries, with a special emphasis on technology transfer to Lebanese factories and positioning Lebanon as a hub for Chinese companies seeking to expand in the Middle East and Africa.
Their proposals were welcomed by the Chinese officials, and it was agreed that the private sectors in both countries would follow up on the matter in the coming period. The fair represents a unique opportunity to explore the latest products and advanced technologies to benefit Lebanese industrial development. The delegation’s visit to China also included meetings with several Chinese officials responsible for economic affairs to discuss potential bilateral cooperation.
The China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, is one of the largest trade events in the world and provides a unique opportunity for Lebanese companies wishing to explore export opportunities to China and import opportunities from China. Accordingly, Lebanese officials requested that the fair management allocate a dedicated Lebanese pavilion in future editions to allow Lebanese companies to showcase their products and services. Most countries, including Arab nations, participate in the fair through national pavilions.
Spokesperson for the fair, Shu Ping, stated that the event, running from October 15 to November 4, attracted exhibitors and buyers from all over the world. Attendance exceeded 100,000 visitors representing buyers from more than 200 countries and regions worldwide. Shu Ping added that the fair’s online platform would also provide extensive services to exhibitors and buyers.
El Abdallah said: “The Canton Fair provides a shared platform for a large number of global companies interested in the Chinese market. Lebanese companies participating can meet not only Chinese companies but also global companies. Therefore, we view this fair as a unique opportunity for Lebanese companies seeking to expand their product and service markets.”
He continued: “At the Lebanese-Chinese Business Association, we are keen to participate in launching the fair from Lebanon. We see it as an opportunity to expand Lebanese companies’ markets, especially given the economic collapse in Lebanon. The growing political, military, and economic challenges—from Ukraine to occupied Palestine—encourage us to seek new opportunities to present to Lebanese companies, particularly those with high-value products and services. We are confident that expanding Lebanese companies’ horizons will support them and strengthen their relationships with new partners in China and other countries experiencing significant economic growth. I can affirm that the economic disruptions in Europe, along with the slowdown or potential recession in the United States, urge us all to explore new markets, especially in friendly countries like China.”
Compared to previous editions, the 134th session of the fair will expand the exhibition space by 50,000 square meters in addition to the 1.18 million square meters recorded in the previous session, with approximately 4,600 more booths. The fair will host over 28,000 exhibitors, including 650 companies from 43 countries and regions. The Canton Fair, launched in 1957 and held twice a year, serves as a key indicator of China’s foreign trade.
The fair highlights Chinese products distributed worldwide as well as new products not yet widely available. It also allows foreign companies to market their products, given the large number of visitors who travel to China twice a year specifically for the fair. The Canton Fair features a wide range of products and services across diverse sectors, including electronics, home appliances, lighting, equipment, vehicles, spare parts, machinery, tools, and more.
