6 partners sign up for Canton Fair e-commerce platform

Organizers of the Canton Fair, China's largest twice-yearly trade event and a barometer of its exports, have already signed six strategic alliances with leading global trade associations for the further development of its newly-launched e-commerce trade service.

Liu Jianjun, spokesman for the Canton Fair and deputy director of China Foreign Trade Center, said the e-commerce platform - e-cantonfair.com - will help boost China's foreign trade and increase overseas investment.

"All the trade partners will organize their members to use the Canton Fair e-commerce service and promote it through their various channels overseas," Liu told China Daily.

The e-commerce service was launched on Monday, on the opening day of the 113th Canton Fair.

Liu said he has signed agreements with two partners from BRICS countries: the China General Chamber of Commerce in Russia and China (Brazil) Investment Development and Trade Co.

The other four partners are: the Europe-China Culture and Economy Commission; the US-China Exchange Association; the Turkish Chinese Businessmen Association; and the Peruvian Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

"For Chinese enterprises going global, we will join trade forces with these alliance partners to provide business matching services and help them find investment opportunities in overseas markets," Liu said.

China's foreign trade rose 13.4 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, with exports increasing 18.4 percent.

"Chinese exporters are expected to see a rise in the number of deals this year as the economy in Europe and the United States recover and demands from emerging markets such as Brazil and Russia pick up," Liu added.

Xie Jianzhong, general secretary of Europe-China Culture and Economy Commission, said China's trade with Europe will stabilize this year, given that Chinese exporters have attached more importance to technology upgrading and value-added products.

Wang Zhiping, director of the China Foreign Trade Center, added: "Partnerships with overseas commerce associations play a significant role in boosting China's foreign trade and promoting the nation's manufacturing business."

The e-cantonfair.com platform helps expand the onsite exhibition into a year-round trade event, explained Wang.

"The alliance will help Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises better use the Internet to promote themselves in the international market," Wang said.

Wang added that Europe and the US remain the country's biggest two partners in trade.

"But emerging markets, especially Russia, Brazil, Turkey and Peru, provide new opportunities for China's trade and investment," he said, adding that with Russia's entry to the World Trade Organization, China's trade and investment with that country is expected to boom.

Cai Guiru, the president of the China General Chamber of Commerce in Russia, said it will organize its members to better use the e-commerce platform.

"High-end Chinese products are welcomed in Russia. We will conduct matchmaking services for Chinese companies to better invest there," Cai said.