Summary
On the opening day of the 140th Canton Fair, former Australian deputy ambassador to China John Land arrived with an Australian delegation. His last visit to Guangzhou was in 1975. What caught his attention this time was a pair of 'robotic hands'—strapped to the arm, neural signals drive each finger to move in a way close to a human hand.
He took notes and planned to discuss imports with hospitals in Melbourne upon his return, and to talk distribution with Chinese companies. He also looked at pathology analysis equipment and firefighting robots. The scene unfolded against the backdrop of the 2026 APEC 'China Year'.
The 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will soon open in Shenzhen. Buyers from 21 APEC economies are already writing footnotes for 'openness, innovation and co-operation' with orders and factory visits in Pazhou. On the demand side, the shift is from buying goods to buying technology: Australian buyer Mark headed straight for the service robot exhibition area; Canadian buyer Christopher was interested in integrated prefabricated housing; Foshan Jiateng Robot's overseas revenue share has risen from single digits a few years ago to over 40 percent, with products covering more than 30 countries.
North America accounts for about half of its export sales, and three years ago it set up a local team of about 20 people in Michigan, USA. Among the buying delegation organised by the New Zealand Guangdong Chamber of Commerce, a buyer dealing in kitchen furniture explicitly proposed bringing Chinese artificial intelligence technology into his own factory. In terms of data, in the first three quarters of this year, Guangdong's imports and exports with other APEC economies reached 5.74 trillion yuan, up 26.4 percent, accounting for 65.9 percent of the province's total foreign trade value.
Imports and exports with all 15 member economies achieved double-digit growth. Xia Yang, vice president of the New Zealand Guangdong Chamber of Commerce, said New Zealand has about 300,000 resident Chinese. If each Chinese person brings in 5 to 10 local consumers, that would basically cover the New Zealand population.
During the 139th Canton Fair, the New Zealand buying delegation reached more than 60 intended co-operation projects, with intended transaction value exceeding USD 10 million, covering green energy, smart home appliances, daily consumer goods and other sectors.
Commentary
As a barometer of China's foreign trade, the Canton Fair's signalling significance is even more pronounced against the backdrop of APEC China Year. The buying delegation organised by the New Zealand Guangdong Chamber of Commerce reached more than 60 intended co-operation projects at the previous Canton Fair, with transaction value exceeding USD 10 million, covering green energy, smart home appliances and other fields, showing New Zealand small and medium-sized enterprises' continued reliance on Chinese supply chains. What is noteworthy is that purchasing demand is shifting from finished products to technology and solutions.
For example, a New Zealand kitchen furniture company plans to introduce Chinese AI technology to upgrade its factory. For New Zealand SME owners, this is both a challenge and an opportunity: on the one hand, China's cost and technological advantages in robotics, AI and other fields may impact local manufacturing; on the other hand, connecting with Chinese technology through the Canton Fair can improve their own production efficiency and develop new products. New Zealand's Chinese population is about 300,000, and their consumption networks can effectively reach the mainstream market, providing a unique channel for China-New Zealand trade.
Guangdong's imports and exports with APEC economies grew 26.4 percent, indicating accelerated regional supply chain integration. New Zealand companies should seize the opportunity of APEC trade facilitation and use the Canton Fair platform to expand co-operation, especially in growth areas such as smart homes and prepared dishes.
Keywords: Canton Fair, APEC, Guangdong foreign trade, service robots, New Zealand Guangdong Chamber of Commerce, buyers, prepared dishes, technology going global
Photo from Unsplash (placeholder)
Disclaimer: This article is compiled from publicly available sources for general information only. The analysis and commentary are editorial opinions. MiDeer Observer does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. Readers should seek independent professional advice before relying on this content, or contact us for more information.
