The Promotional Conference of the 116th China Import and Export Fair (known as China Canton Fair) was held on Friday in the Maltese capital.
Addressing the event, Director General of China Foreign Trade Centre Wang Zhiping said buyers attending the Fair rose from 1,223 from 19 countries and regions in the first session to 188,119 from 214 countries and regions in the 115th session.
"Since the 62nd session, altogether 1,131 Maltese buyers have been to the Fair, mainly procured household electrical appliances, home decorations and building materials," Wang said.
Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Malta Enterprise Marika Tonna said Malta today is a quality manufacturing base and perfect location for Chinese companies wishing to increase their business not only in the European Union, but also the North African countries.
She said the canton fair could be an occasion for Maltese companies to forge new businesses and strengthen business relationships, urging Maltese exporters to discuss with the visiting delegation the opportunity to sell their produces at the Canton Fair.
China Import and Export Fair is held biannually in China's southern city Guangzhou every spring and autumn. The Fair is a comprehensive one with the longest history, the largest scale, and the greatest business turnover in China.
Since the International Pavilion was set up in 2007, 7,191 overseas enterprises have come to the Canton Fair to exhibit their products such as building materials and hardware, machinery and equipment, industrial raw materials and food.
The upcoming China Canton Fair will be held between Oct. 15 and Nov. 4 in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province.