GUANGZHOU, April 24 (Xinhua) -- At a newly launched drone exhibition zone at the China Import and Export Fair, widely known as the Canton Fair, Chinese manufacturers are no longer talking only about hardware.
They are talking about emergency rescue, public safety, industrial drone payloads and system-level solutions -- a sign of how Chinese exporters are moving from selling individual products to providing more integrated solutions.
The shift is creating fresh room for China-Germany cooperation in intelligent manufacturing, as German buyers look beyond cost advantages to Chinese partners that can offer customized solutions, support product planning and sustain long-term supplier relationships.
The 139th edition of the Canton Fair opened in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, on April 15. During its first phase, themed "advanced manufacturing," about 167,000 overseas buyers from 216 countries and regions attended, up 5.9 percent from the first phase of the previous edition.
Germany, one of China's most important trading partners in Europe, has long maintained a strong presence at the fair. Leading German companies, including Metro and Lidl & Kaufland, sent procurement teams, underscoring steady demand for cooperation with Chinese suppliers.
This year, for the first time, the fair introduced dedicated exhibition zones for consumer and agricultural drones. Featuring 24 companies, the new section has become a window onto the changing nature of China-Germany cooperation in high-end manufacturing.
Guangzhou Chengzhi Intelligent Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. is attending the fair for the first time. According to Zhang Kai, the company's vice president, Chengzhi focuses on industrial drone payloads, with products used in emergency rescue, public safety and other scenarios across more than 50 countries and regions.
Germany accounts for about 8 percent of the company's overseas business. Zhang said European clients, including those from Germany, have shown strong recognition of Chinese drone technology.
"By focusing on application scenarios, we integrate functions such as lighting and broadcasting into drones to deliver system-level solutions that better meet overseas demand," Zhang said.
Similar demand for customized solutions is also being felt by other drone makers. Zhejiang RongQe Technology Co., Ltd. has also seen growing interest from German companies.
"We have already received inquiries from several German companies," said Liu Junjie, the company's vice president.
Liu added that Chinese drone manufacturers have become highly competitive globally because of their complete supply chains, relatively low costs and reliable quality. When customers need customized solutions for particular industries, he added, Chinese manufacturers become a compelling choice.
The same pattern is also visible in more traditional sectors, including home appliances and consumer goods.
At a supply-demand matchmaking event, a sales representative surnamed Su from KSKIN, a Zhuhai-based manufacturer of home-use beauty and hair care devices, sat down with a procurement team from German retail giant Lidl & Kaufland. Within half an hour, the two sides had moved quickly through product specifications, certification requirements and delivery timelines for beauty devices.
"The client has already asked us to send samples. The cooperation is very likely to move forward," Su said.
For German companies, the Canton Fair remains a place to find suppliers. But it has also increasingly become a venue to explore new technologies, new product categories and partners that can help shape future products.
Severin Elektrogerate GmbH has participated in the Canton Fair for more than 30 years. Can Yildirim, the company's chief technology officer, said Severin had sent core teams from its procurement and product development departments to this year's fair.
The goal, he said, was to strengthen ties with existing Chinese suppliers while exploring new technologies and product categories that could support the company's product planning.
"Through the Canton Fair, we have built long-term partnerships, and we also hope to meet new partners here," Yildirim said.
Business representatives said that amid ongoing adjustments in global industrial chains, China-Germany cooperation is moving beyond conventional trade in goods toward deeper technological collaboration and joint innovation.
As emerging sectors such as the low-altitude economy, service robotics, and green and low-carbon products continue to develop, Chinese exhibitors at the Canton Fair are seeking to show that they can offer more than manufacturing capacity. Increasingly, they are presenting technologies, application scenarios and integrated solutions as part of deeper industrial cooperation. ■
