Published by ChinaMNC ยท Ruicheng
Guangzhou Trade Fair Marks 70 Years as China Restates Open-Door Message to Foreign Business
China's president sent a congratulatory letter to the 140th Canton Fair, stressing multilateral trade and supply chain stability. What foreign founders should take away as they register and run a company in China.
What Happened
On 14 October, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 140th session of the China Import and Export Fair, widely known as the Canton Fair, according to Xinhua. The 140th session opened the same day in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, and is jointly hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the Guangdong Provincial People's Government.
For foreign founders weighing whether to set up or expand a company in China, the letter is worth reading closely. It restates Beijing's official position on trade openness at a moment when many overseas entrepreneurs are deciding where to place their next manufacturing, sourcing or sales entity. Below we summarize what the source actually says, and what it does not.
The Official Message, in Brief
In the letter, President Xi noted that in the 70 years since the Canton Fair was founded, it has played an important role in promoting trade between China and other countries. He described the fair as an effective platform for China to expand high-standard opening up and to help build an open world economy.
He also set out China's stated willingness under what he called the new situation: to work with other countries to uphold the multilateral trading system, keep global industrial and supply chains stable and smooth, broaden the space for mutually beneficial international economic and trade cooperation, advance an economic globalization that is inclusive and benefits all, and continue to inject new momentum into world development and prosperity.
What the source does not say
The source contains no specific policy measures, tax changes, visa rules, investment incentives, timelines or commitments aimed at foreign-invested enterprises. It is a congratulatory letter marking an anniversary and a trade fair session. Founders should treat it as a signal of official tone, not as a rulebook. Any concrete decision on company registration, capital, licensing or tax should rest on the specific regulations that apply to your sector and location.
Why the Canton Fair Matters to Founders
The fair is described in the source as a long-running channel for trade between Chinese and foreign companies. For a founder building a China-based operation, that has practical relevance in a few areas:
- Sourcing and supplier validation. Trade fairs concentrate suppliers in one place, which can shorten the due-diligence phase before you commit to a manufacturing or distribution partner.
- Market testing. Meeting buyers and sellers face to face can help you judge demand for your product line before you scale a local entity.
- Relationship building. The source frames the fair as a platform for trade exchange; for founders, that translates into an established venue for meeting counterparties.
None of this replaces legal and commercial checks. It simply explains why the fair remains on the calendar of many foreign business people operating in China.
Reading the Openness Language Carefully
The letter uses broad, diplomatic language: multilateralism, supply chain stability, mutually beneficial cooperation, inclusive globalization. These are official framing terms. They indicate the direction the government says it wants trade relations to take. They are not, by themselves, guarantees of treatment for any individual company.
A sensible approach for founders is to separate stated intent from binding rules. The letter belongs in the first category. Your registration path, business scope, capital requirements and reporting duties belong in the second, and those are set by the specific laws and local procedures that apply to your project.
Practical Takeaways for Foreign Founders
If you are considering a China entity, here is how the letter's themes can inform your planning without overreading it.
1. Trade-facing sectors may see continued official attention
The source emphasizes trade promotion and supply chain stability. Founders in import/export, logistics, sourcing and manufacturing services may find the broader policy conversation relevant to their sector. Still, confirm the current rules for your activity with local authorities or a qualified adviser.
2. Guangzhou remains a trade hub
The 140th session opened in Guangzhou and is co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the provincial government. That is a factual detail from the source, and it reflects the city's role as a venue for international trade activity. Founders evaluating locations for a trading or sourcing office may include Guangzhou in their comparison, alongside other cities, based on their own sector needs.
3. Use events as research, not as legal advice
Trade fairs are useful for gathering market intelligence. They are not a substitute for verifying registration requirements, sector-specific licensing or tax obligations. Build your checklist from official sources and local practice.
4. Keep your own compliance calendar
Whatever the diplomatic messaging, a foreign-invested company in China must still meet its own registration, reporting and tax deadlines. Treat official statements as context; treat your filings as obligations.
What to Watch Next
The source reports only the letter and the opening of the 140th session. It does not announce follow-up measures. Founders who want to track changes should monitor official announcements from the Ministry of Commerce, local commerce bureaus and the market regulation authorities in the city where they plan to register. Those are the channels that carry operative detail.
Bottom Line
The congratulatory letter is a short, formal document. Its value to foreign founders is mainly contextual: it confirms that trade promotion and supply chain stability remain part of the official message, and it marks another session of a long-running trade fair in Guangzhou. It does not change any registration or tax rule by itself. Use it to understand the tone of the moment, and rely on specific regulations and professional advice for your actual China setup.
Need hands-on help? Foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp or WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535 for assistance with registering and operating a company in China.
This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.