As one of the largest regional trade fairs in China, the 31st East China Fair concluded in Shanghai on July 15 after a four-day run.

According to preliminary statistics released by the official, the fair attracted over 35,000 merchants from 119 countries and regions, totaling 51,000 person-times. The transaction amount reached an impressive $2.18 billion.

"The fair is big and beautiful. There are many interesting products we want to introduce back in Africa," said Abigail Quarshie, a representative from Wilabiel GH Ltd, who was purchasing a kind of mirror made of special material at the Home Products exhibition area of the fair.

To facilitate trade matching, the fair introduced an online communication platform for procurement matching.

The online platform proved particularly helpful for exhibitors who were unable to physically attend, as it reduced the "trade distance" and facilitated online negotiations, complementing the traditional offline negotiations.

Throughout the fair, a total of six procurement matching meetings were held, involving 900 rounds of negotiations, with four face-to-face meetings and two screen-to-screen online meetings.

Another impressive feature of this year's fair was the integration of the domestic and international markets.

Wang Tao, the Asia marketing sales director of JC Friend Co, specifically came from Osaka, Japan, to this fair in Shanghai.

"The ECF is a two-way platform through which we can not only promote high-quality Japanese products to Chinese consumers, but also learn about the demands of the Chinese market," said Wang.

Some companies at the fair brought both domestic and international trade teams, which led to a notable increase in domestic trade and provided assistance for international trade.

To capitalize on the trade growth opportunities presented by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, this year's fair incorporated a session dedicated to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

This particular session garnered considerable attention from local merchants and domestic suppliers, who voiced their optimism about the prospects of expanding trade in the future.

"The ECF is an important occasion for us to communicate with our clients. In addition, we can learn the latest industrial information and international trends so as to better plan our future development," said Eric Wang, the general manager of Gaomi Monyuan Home Fashions, Sunvim Group.