Enterprises should fully utilize the Canton Fair to maximize their opportunities in the market, as it is a platform for domestic manufacturers and international buyers, a senior official said.

On a trip Monday to the 98th Chinese Export Commodities Fair, Zhang Dejiang, secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the CPC, stressed Chinese companies can sharpen their competitive edge in the global market by improving product quality, service and credibility.

Zhang inspected the booths of household appliances, electronic goods, lamps and construction materials.

He was pleased to hear the exports of Midea, a major air conditioner producer in China, was expected to hit US$1.6 billion, saying Chinese household appliance exports met three challenges, namely overseas trade barriers, rising costs and environmental protection quotas.

"The fair is not simply a fair for procurement and placing orders, it should be a window for domestic enterprises to see the demand and trends of global market," Zhang said.

Meanwhile, the sale of fake mobile phones, computers and fair tickets outside the Pazhou venue of the fair was still rampant, even worse than last year.

Hundreds of people tried to enter the venue with tickets from the previous fair, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported.

The newspaper found several middle-aged men, leaning against the fence at the taxi stand, handing out cards to foreign visitors and peddling brand-new laptops and mobile phones. Several people sold fair tickets at a price of 500 yuan (US$60) each, saying they got the tickets from insiders, claiming their authenticity. Police said the buyers of the tickets were individual foreign visitors who sought opportunities at the fair, company workers eager to show their products, and commercial spies who want to steal the business secrets of companies.

Editor: Yan
By: Source:Szdaily web edition