Published by ChinaMNC · Xia

China's Canton Fair Marks 70 Years as Beijing Signals Open Trade Stance for Foreign Founders

A look at what President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter to the 140th Canton Fair says about China's trade posture, and what foreign founders operating in China should take from it.

What the Government Announcement Says

On 14 October 2026, Chinese 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 a Xinhua report carried by the Chinese government's official website. The letter was issued on the opening day of the fair in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. The event is co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the Guangdong Provincial People's Government, the source states.

For foreign founders building or running a company in China, the announcement is worth reading less as a ceremonial item and more as a signal of how Beijing frames its trade policy at a moment when global supply chains remain a live concern for cross-border businesses.

Key Points From the Letter

The Fair's Role Over Seven Decades

According to the source, Xi noted that in the 70 years since the Canton Fair was founded, it has played an important role in promoting trade exchanges between China and other countries. The letter describes the fair as an effective platform for China to expand high-standard opening up and to help build an open world economy.

Beijing's Stated Priorities

The letter outlines several positions attributed to China under what it calls the "new situation." These include a willingness to work with other countries to:

• Uphold the multilateral trading system — the source says China expresses readiness to join other nations in safeguarding the multilateral trade framework.
• Keep global industrial and supply chains stable and smooth — described as a shared objective.
• Expand room for mutually beneficial international economic and trade cooperation — framed as a goal of broadening cooperation.
• Advance inclusive economic globalization — the letter uses the phrase "universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization."
• Continue injecting new momentum into world development and prosperity — presented as the intended outcome of these efforts.

These are stated positions in an official letter, not policy measures with specific implementation details. Founders should treat them as context for the direction of official messaging rather than as new rules affecting company registration, licensing, or tax treatment.

Why This Matters for Foreign Founders

The Canton Fair is one of China's longest-running trade events and a common first stop for overseas buyers and sellers looking to build supplier relationships. For a foreign founder assessing whether to establish a legal entity in China, the fair's continued prominence — now in its 140th session — is a practical reminder that cross-border trade flows through established channels that foreign businesses have long used.

The letter's emphasis on supply chain stability is also relevant to founders who depend on Chinese manufacturing or sourcing. Businesses that import from or export to China often find that having a locally registered entity can simplify contracting, invoicing, and dealings with suppliers and customers. However, the source text does not describe any specific policy changes, incentives, or procedural updates for foreign-invested companies. Any decision to register a company should be based on current law and professional advice, not on a congratulatory letter alone.

What the Source Does Not Say

To be clear about the limits of this information: the announcement contains no details on foreign investment rules, visa categories, tax rates, registered capital requirements, or sector-specific restrictions. It does not announce new zones, pilot programs, or administrative reforms. Founders should not infer specific regulatory changes from it. The value here is directional — official messaging continues to stress openness and trade cooperation — while the concrete steps of company formation remain governed by existing Chinese law.

Practical Reading for Founders

If you are considering China as a market or a base, the announcement offers a few grounded takeaways:

• The fair remains active and official. Its 140th session opened in Guangzhou with co-hosting by the Ministry of Commerce and Guangdong's provincial government, per the source. That indicates continued institutional backing for the event.
• Trade rhetoric is stable. The language used — multilateralism, supply chain stability, inclusive globalization — is consistent with prior official framing. Founders can expect continuity in public messaging, though implementation details are set elsewhere.
• Local presence still requires due diligence. Nothing in the letter changes the practical work of registering a company, obtaining licenses, or meeting compliance obligations. Those steps depend on your business model, sector, and location.

How to Use This Information

Treat the letter as background. If you are evaluating a China entity, map your plans against the actual rules for your industry, and consult qualified professionals on registration, capital, and tax. The source does not provide those specifics, and no summary of a ceremonial letter can substitute for them.

Bottom Line

The 140th Canton Fair opened in Guangzhou on 14 October 2026, and President Xi's letter restates China's stated commitment to open trade and stable supply chains. For foreign founders, the signal is one of continuity in official trade messaging — useful context, but not a substitute for checking the concrete legal and tax requirements that apply to your company.

Foreign founders who want help registering and operating a company in China can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp or WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.