Reform in air at the fair

BEIJING - Going to the Canton Fair used to be thought of as an important step on the road to reform by Chinese companies, because, at the nation's largest trade event, they would find foreign buyers and thus connecting themselves with the world market.

But now, the China Import and Export Fair, the official name of the Canton Fair, is also experiencing some important reforms of its own.

Instead of sending individual invitations to overseas buyers and exhibitors, the biannual fair is paying more attention to building partnerships with overseas chambers of commerce and industrial organizations.