The 2026 Pearl River International Trade Forum took place at the Canton Fair Convention Center in Guangzhou, China on October 16, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the Canton Fair. The forum, themed "Building Mutual Trust and Joining Forces for Shared Success," aimed to explore new avenues for Chinese companies to enter overseas markets amid evolving global trade conditions. It addressed the integration of trade and investment and the importance of international cooperation among overseas industrial parks, while emphasizing the Canton Fair's role in promoting an open global economy.
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Pascal Lamy, former Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), delivered a video address at the event, highlighting trust as a critical component of international trade. He acknowledged the long-standing contribution of the Canton Fair in linking China with the rest of the world and expressed a desire for further balanced trade relations and mutually beneficial cooperation.
The forum included expert dialogues, thematic sessions focusing on emerging opportunities, and business matchmaking activities. These components were designed to connect analysis and practical case studies with real business engagement, facilitating potential partnerships.
Jiang Xiaojuan, a professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and former Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council, presented a new "born global" business model suited for the era of artificial intelligence. This model promotes the development of technologies and services targeted at global markets from the start, contrasting with traditional practices where companies first establish themselves domestically. Jiang noted that advancements in digital technologies and enhancements in China's industrial capabilities are driving this new phase of globalization. She emphasized the importance for companies to adopt a global outlook, develop trusted brands, engage in mutually beneficial cooperation, and adhere to high international compliance standards. She also called for increased transparency and predictability in cross-border innovation resources, supported by institutional safeguards to enable high-standard globalization.