The 31st East China Fair kicked off on July 12 in Pudong, Shanghai, attracting buyers and sellers from all over the world.

This year's ECF, which will last until July 15, aims to revive business opportunities in the textile, clothing and other light industries. It is a major offline exhibition that has started again since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Covering an exhibition area of 105,200 square meters, the event consists of four sub-exhibitions: Garments, Textiles, Home Products and Gifts.

There are two dedicated exhibition areas exclusively showcasing overseas products and cross-border e-commerce.

One of the highlights of the fair is the Import Area, located in Hall N4 of the Shanghai New International Expo Center. It offers 272 booths showcasing high-quality imported products from 11 countries and regions including Japan, South Korea, Pakistan and Nepal. A total of 234 exhibitors are presenting their goods, emphasizing both their international and local appeal.

One of the fair's dedicated exhibition areas, known as the cross-border e-commerce exhibition area, serves as a hub for supply chain manufacturers, buyers, online retailers and cross-border e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Alibaba International, Google and made-in-china.com.

The ECF is held at the Shanghai New International Expo Center in Pudong New Area, Shanghai. [Photo/Official website of East China Fair]

As the largest import and export trade fair in Chinese textiles, ECF has played a crucial role in the clothing and light industry products trade since its establishment in 1991. It has continuously evolved its mechanisms, expanding into new markets and providing a platform for international exhibitors to trade.

Over the past three decades, ECF has attracted over 80,000 exhibitors, facilitating nearly $67 billion in transactions, making it a vital international event in the field of foreign trade.

Zhang Xiong, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai municipal government, highlighted the crucial role of ECF in driving foreign trade. He emphasized the need to support foreign enterprises in expanding their international reach, allowing Chinese and foreign exhibitors to connect with potential buyers.

Following the opening ceremony, a cross-border e-commerce summit forum was held, enabling experts in the field to share valuable insights and suggestions for the further development of China's cross-border e-commerce industry.

China's cross-border e-commerce has maintained rapid development in recent years, according to Xiao Lu, deputy director of the foreign trade department at the Ministry of Commerce. In 2022, the value of cross-border e-commerce imports and exports exceeded 2 trillion yuan ($278 billion), accounting for about 5 percent of the country's total foreign trade volume.

A large number of cross-border e-commerce companies have expanded their presence in the international market and have begun to make a name for themselves, Xiao added.