At the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, international buyers are getting a taste of next-gen retail. A quick scan of a QR code sets an autonomous local robot into motion, handling everything from picking to delivery in one smooth continuous flow.

Overseas Buyer:

"I want to purchase this robot for the hospitality section to use it as a service robot for our hotels. I'm sure it's a very useful robot, and it can do a better job than most employees and serve better."

In the service robot zone, another Guangzhou-based company is drawing huge crowds of buyers. Its range of robots for facade cleaning, solar panel cleaning and household cleaning can assist or replace human workers for high-altitude work on tall buildings. Many buyers are placing orders on the spot, with some even paying cash upfront.

Beyond product quality, buyers also factor after-sales support and technical support heavily into their order decisions.

Overseas Buyer:

"After-sales service is a big one. Because with any product, everything has issues, so you want to have a service afterwards that rectifies those issues."

Leveraging the Canton Fair as a global trade platform, Guangzhou companies are shifting their overseas growth strategy. Instead of only exporting hardware, they are building localized service networks abroad to deliver context-specific solutions.

Exhibitor:

"We work with US tech firms, whose software runs directly on our interactive display tablets — customers can use them straight out of the box. As a leading player in the domestic supply chain, we’re also expanding our full industrial and supply chain footprint in overseas markets."

The APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting is scheduled to take place in Shenzhen this November. Against this backdrop, the ongoing Canton Fair stands as a vivid showcase of the dynamism of Asia-Pacific economic and trade cooperation.

Overseas Buyer:

"I think the Canton Fair is the biggest exposition in the world, so I think it's a very good chance for Korean traders. The relationship between Asian countries and China has become much closer than ever."

Exhibitor Representative:

"We’re seeing noticeably more customers from Southeast Asian countries than before. With the upcoming APEC meeting, there are far more opportunities for mutual exchange. Many clients say they’re interested in visiting our factories after our talks."