China's kitchenware and tableware have been winning growing recognition among international buyers at the ongoing China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, which emerges as a key platform for domestic firms to showcase innovation and secure new opportunities.

In the second phase of the fair, the kitchenware and tableware exhibition covers more than 70,000 square meters with over 3,300 booths, making it the largest section of the event.

International buyers said that the variety and quality of Chinese products draw them back to the trade fair year after year.

"It's a place where you can get a very good range of goods, meet lots of different manufacturers. There's a very wide range here this year. You really need to be here to actually look at the stuff and feel the stuff to understand the quality," said Stuart James Smith, a British buyer.

The agility of Chinese firms in responding to market trends is another factor that attracts global buyers.

"Canton Fair is the reference on the fair worldwide. So, we absolutely need to be here to discover what's new, what's happening in the market. What is really interesting in China, I mean from cookware supplier in China, is the agility, the ability to react, the ability to find a solution when we have a request. So I appreciate it really much," said Paolo Rovere, an Italian buyer.

For Chinese firms, the fair is more than a showcase. It is a gateway to new opportunities.

Chen Helin, a Chinese exhibitor, recalled his company's history at the trade fair, saying his company has previously started with a small booth and basic cookware, but it now offers a full product line built with advanced domestic materials.

"The development of raw materials has greatly boosted China's industrial growth. As materials and processing have advanced, our product lines have steadily improved, and Chinese manufacturing has become fully integrated. With stronger materials, standards and high-end equipment, Chinese products have established a firm position in global markets. The Canton Fair has become the place where companies showcase their latest technologies, new products, new materials, fresh ideas and modern lifestyles," said Chen.

The kitchenware and tableware section became an independent category at the 91st Canton Fair in 2002. It has since expanded steadily with increasingly diverse products.

The 139th China Import and Export Fair runs in Guangzhou from April 15 to May 5 across three phases. Its second phase, held on April 23-27, focuses on building materials, furniture, household goods and decorations.

Established in 1957, the Canton Fair is held twice a year in Guangzhou in south China. It is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trade events in China, and has been hailed as the barometer of China's foreign trade.