Key trade exhibition goes virtual

As a complement to the twice-yearly China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, the Internet site e-cantonfair.com will offer services to all global buyers during its spring session that starts on Tuesday, a senior company manager said.

The service "will be of great importance to boosting Chinese exporters' presence in the international trade market and helping upgrade the traditional fair's service to a higher online level," said Zhang Liang, vice-president of the Canton Fair E-Commerce Co.

The online trade service, launched during the spring session last year, was previously reserved for global buyers registered with the fair, according to Zhang.