BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a congratulatory letter to the 140th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, which is also known as the Canton Fair.

In his letter, Xi said over the past 70 years since its establishment, the Canton Fair has played a significant role in promoting trade exchanges between China and other countries, serving as an effective platform for China to expand high-level opening up and promote the building of an open world economy.

Under the new circumstances, China is willing to join hands with countries around the world to safeguard the multilateral trading system, ensure the stability and smooth operation of global industrial and supply chains, expand the space for mutually beneficial international economic and trade cooperation, and promote a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, to inject new momentum into global development and prosperity, Xi said.

The fair opened on the same day in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province.