AUTHORITIES in southern China's Guangdong Province opened the 103rd China Import and Export Fair (also known as the Canton Fair) amid tightened security checks, the Yangcheng Evening News reported.

All domestic exhibitors at this year's Canton Fair in the province's capital city of Guangzhou were checked for a criminal record, the first time such a requirement has been put in place in the fair's 51-year history.

People were also required to take security checks, similar to those at airports, when entering the exhibition hall.

The move was made due to a "special situation" for this year's fair, said fair spokesman Xu Bin. Xu did not reveal what the "special situation" was.

The fair canceled all scheduled seminars due to security concerns. More than 300,000 businessmen are expected to attend the fair, including nearly 200,000 from 210 foreign countries and regions.