The 137th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, has witnessed a significant rise in orders from Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries, underscoring deepening trade ties and growing market demand.
Running from April 15 to May 5 in the southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou, this edition of the biennial fair has attracted about 31,000 participating firms, up by nearly 900 compared with the previous fair.
Fei Bo, a power tools and appliances exhibitor has participated in the expo for three consecutive years. He said his company's latest products - featuring core patented technologies and notable advantages such as user-friendly operation and long battery life—have seen a marked increase in market share in BRI countries.
"Through the Canton Fair, we met many new clients, mainly from Belt and Road countries, which led to a surge in orders. Compared with last year, our first-quarter sales rose by 50 percent. Based on our preliminary discussions and negotiations, I sense even stronger purchasing intent this year," said Fei.
With China's "circle of friends" among BRI countries continuing to expand, the export share of one participating enterprise to these countries now accounts for half of its total export volume. Leveraging the unique strengths of China's manufacturing supply chain, the company continues to develop products tailored to the needs of BRI markets.
"By focusing on the habits and preferences of consumers in BRI countries, we've introduced customized options in areas such as color and functionality, offering customers more diversified and flexible choices," said Wu Qinan, a staff member of an exhibiting company.
A purchaser from Saudi Arabia said his firm has established cooperation with several suppliers during last year's expo and aims to expand partnerships this year.
"Last year we have been here, we purchased from more than 15 suppliers, and this year we are going to repeat the order with these suppliers once again, even though we open with many other new manufacturer in China," said the purchaser.
According to data from the General Administration of Customs, China's imports and exports with BRI partner countries reached 5 trillion yuan (about 715 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of this year, marking a year-on-year increase of 2.2 percent and setting a new record for the same period in history.
137th Canton Fair reports rising orders from BRI partner countries
A deal to give the United States exclusive access to Ukraine's mineral resources has sparked contention among Ukrainian experts, who have described earlier drafts of the agreement as "unacceptable" and "colonial."
As the war between Ukraine and Russia is showing signs of winding down, another battle is quietly unfolding beneath Ukrainian soil, with competitors eying Ukraine's vast reserves of critical minerals.
The United States and Ukraine have signed an agreement to establish the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, the U.S. Treasury Department announced on Wednesday.
For some, the minerals deal with the United States offers a lifeline for Kiev's war-torn economy. For others, it signals the quiet start of a resource takeover, raising concerns about what Ukraine may be giving away in exchange for support.
Ukraine is rich in critical resources such as graphite, lithium, and titanium. All these are vital to electric vehicles, the aerospace industry, and the high-tech supply chain.
At a graphite quarry roughly 400 km south from Kiev, capital of Ukraine, the roads give way to deep ruts and scattered debris, which means the mine site falls short of normal operation in wartime.
According to Ukraine's geological survey, the country holds 22 of the 50 strategic materials identified by the U.S. as critical.
As the global race for these resources intensifies, Washington is eager to secure reliable access. Ukraine, desperate for investment for reconstruction, has opened its doors. However, according to experts, the negotiations have been tense.
"When we had the first draft of this agreement, it was absolutely awful, absolutely unacceptable for Ukraine. It was also like a colonial agreement," said Volodymyr Landa, senior economist at the Center of Economic Strategy of Ukraine.
The country's mining sector is in dire need of foreign capital. At one of Ukraine's largest graphite deposits, infrastructure is minimal, with a few dogs, a guard, and an elderly tractor driver.
A Lviv-based mine owner said water pipes freeze over in winter, bringing operations to a halt. More importantly, the war has drained both labor and funding.
"If the Ukrainian government presents it for free, for 50 years with free rent, our resources will lose from that," said Ostap Kostiuk, CEO of Zavallivskyi Graphite, located in the Kirovohrad region.
Following a tense and reportedly humiliating visit to Washington in March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have softened his stance on a minerals deal he once said he would never sign. The move has triggered public outcry at home.
"Now they (the U.S.) say 'give me money, no, lithium' for the guarantees. It's not fair, I think," said a local resident.
"I definitely started to respect America less. He (Trump) is not interested in Ukraine actually ending the war," another added.
This graphite deposit represents only a fraction of Ukraine's untapped potential. An estimated 30 percent of its critical minerals have already been extracted. The other 70 percent, still buried across vast swathes of the country, is what many believe Washington is ultimately eying.
"Please do everything to make this peace closer to us, closer to people, closer to Ukrainians. Because every day, every hour, every minute, it costs our Ukrainian nation one to five Ukrainian best guys' lives," said Kostiuk.
In the view of Professor Valeriy Pekar, a business scholar in Kyiv and Lviv, the Trump administration is not actually interested in securing peace for Ukraine.
"To take control of our resources, it is necessary to end the war. The American leadership declares themselves great peacemakers, but what they really do is not peacemaking. It's war mongering," he said.
US interest in Ukraine's critical minerals draws public backlash
