LONDON, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and British participants expressed strong expectations for the upcoming 138th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, at a promotion conference held Wednesday in London, with a sub-venue in Belfast.

More than 200 representatives from government agencies, business chambers and enterprises attended the event.

Li Nan, consul general of the Chinese Consulate General in Belfast, said the Canton Fair has grown into a key platform for foreign trade and international exchanges during China's decades of reform and opening up. The fair now attracts buyers and exhibitors from more than 200 countries and regions, he noted.

British enterprises have long been active at the fair, according to Li Peng, economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom. He said its import exhibition has offered British companies a fast track to enter the Chinese market and expand their global presence.

Zhang Sihong, deputy director general of the China Foreign Trade Center, said the number of overseas buyers at the fair has repeatedly reached new highs in recent years, reflecting China's commitment to further opening up despite global economic challenges.

Jack Perry, chairman of the 48 Group, called the fair a "stabilizer" in global trade, highlighting its role at a time when protectionism and geopolitical tensions threaten supply chains. China and Britain, he added, have complementary strengths that can help make trade smarter, greener and more resilient.

Peter McConvey, director of Signature Works and a regular buyer at the fair, focused on its scale, product quality and innovation, saying it supports long-term business growth and broader opportunities.

Li Peng said more British companies are encouraged to make full use of the fair to deepen cooperation with China.

First launched in 1957, the fair is held every spring and autumn in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. This year's autumn fair is scheduled to run from October to November.