The China Import and Export Fair, widely known as the Canton Fair, will resume physical exhibits after three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, setting off on a new journey in global trade, according to Chu Shijia, director of the China Foreign Trade Center.

The fair will include a venue expansion for the first time, with the exhibition area increased from 1.18 million square meters to 1.5 million square meters.

"The latest progress in industrial development and technological advancement will be displayed to present a feast of China's manufacturing for global buyers," Chu said, during a conference to promote the fair on Monday in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

The fair's exhibition structure will be optimized this year, with three new categories — industrial automation and intelligent manufacturing; new energy and intelligent connected vehicles; and maternal and baby products.

Additionally, three new zones for intelligent life, silver economy, detection reagents and pandemic protective equipment will be set up, according to the fair's organizing committee.

"The fact that the fair will fully resume its physical exhibition shows China's determination to open wider to the world. China is known both as the world's factory and a market for the world," he said.

Inaugurated at the 101st session to expand imports, the International Pavilion during the fair has provided great convenience for overseas enterprises to share global business opportunities over the past 16 years, Chu said.

In the upcoming session, it's the first time that the International Pavilion will be set up in all three phases and international exhibitors can participate in all the product categories.

"We will invite domestic and overseas purchasers, agents and branches of multinational companies in China, foreign-invested enterprises in China, cross-border e-commerce enterprises and domestic purchasers to participate in the fair," said Zhang Jinsong, director-general of Guangdong's Department of Commerce.

The fair provides an important stage and arena for Guangdong-based enterprises to make good use of both domestic and international markets and resources, Zhang said.