The ongoing 136th session of the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, is not only a grand international trade event but also a showcase of green and low-carbon technologies with over 1.04 million eco-friendly products on display.
The event kicked off in south China's Guangzhou City on Tuesday. Themed "Serving high-quality development, promoting high-level opening-up", this edition of the fair features 1.15 million new products with more than 30,000 exhibitors participating.
At the home appliance section, an air source heat pump is gaining popularity among European buyers.
It absorbs heat from the air through the outdoor unit, then uses the refrigerant to transfer the collected heat to the water tank.
It can deliver four kilowatt hours of heat for every one kilowatt hour of electricity consumed, saving nearly 70 percent energy compared with traditional heating systems.
"This product uses the world-leading R290 refrigerant, which reduces carbon emissions by 99 percent compared with traditional refrigerants," said Liu Dongping, an exhibitor.
Another highlight is a solar inflatable tent that requires no framework and can be set up in just two minutes.
It features lightweight solar panels that meet outdoor power needs. If a user's mobile phone runs out of power outdoors, he can connect the wire and the phone can be charged.
"This is the first time I'm attending the show and very impressed with the size. So I believe that the Chinese are very innovative. They're putting a lot of work into product development. And they're trying to stay ahead of the curve and the sense of like putting out new product. I'm willing to explore other opportunities with China, and I want to bring more green products into our market," said a purchaser from the United States.
With over 55.9 percent of exhibitors holding patents in the green sector, the Canton Fair is emerging as a vital platform for China to showcase its commitment to sustainability on the global stage.
Covering a total exhibition area of 1.55 million square meters, the fair will be held in three phases between Oct 15 and Nov 4, with the first phase lasting five days.
Canton Fair spotlights green innovations
Canton Fair spotlights green innovations
China has built and upgraded nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads across Africa as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to boost industrial and infrastructure development, as well as trade on the continent.
In Uganda, the 217.9-million-U.S.-dollar Masindi-Park Junction and Tangi Junction-Paraa-Buliisa road project serves as a vital link for both commerce and conservation in the country.
Funded by the China Export-Import Bank and built by China Communications Construction Company, the project is not just a ribbon of asphalt, but a lifeline connecting communities and catalyzing growth.
The road winds through the vast Murchison Falls National Park, reducing travel time and improving the tourist experience.
And the 51-kilometer Kampala Entebbe Expressway in the country, financed and constructed by China, reduces the travel time from Kampala to Entebbe airport to 30 minutes from 120 minutes before.
In Tanzania, the Chinese-built state-of-the-art Kijazi Interchange in Dar es Salaam is the biggest project of its kind in the country.
It consists of a three-level interchange with the maximum height of 17.5 meters and service roads.
The interchange significantly reduces traffic jams in the commercial capital, making heavy traffic jams lasting for hours at the busy Ubungo junction history.
The Keffi Road project in Nigeria, contracted by the China Harbor Engineering Company, was completed in 2023.
The project comprises the construction of the Abuja-Keffi expressway and dualization of Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi road in central Nigeria, facilitating local economic activities along with job opportunities and road-construction expertise.
The 27.1-kilometer Nairobi Expressway, built by a Chinese firm, is providing a faster route for motorists heading to and from the central business district, the city's industrial area and the main international airport.
It is part of a broader investment in Kenya's transport infrastructure, aimed at improving road connectivity and supporting the country's economic growth.
Since its launch, the toll road has significantly cut travel time between Nairobi's southern areas, home to the main airport, and the upscale Westlands suburb, from two hours during peak times to just 20 minutes.
China builds, upgrades nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads across Africa
