GUANGZHOU, China, June 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- On one side, an industry boasting more than 3.6 million American companies. These create jobs for more than 42 million people and generate US$2.5 trillion in annual sales.

On the other, a biannual event for 210,000 international professionals from 200 countries and areas. These professionals meet and strike deals with 25,000 factories and suppliers in China, offering an incredible range of products.

These are the NRF, America's National Retail Federation, the world's largest retail trade organization, and the Canton Fair, China's most prestigious trade show.

"I'm honored and excited to be able to attend this event. The Canton Fair plays a vital role in economic and trade links between China and the United States."

Matthew Shay, President and CEO of NRF, recently made another visit to the Canton Fair. Meeting with Wang Runsheng, Deputy Director of the Fair, Shay's presence augurs well for burgeoning bilateral trade between China and the United States.

Wang acknowledged the NRF as a globally renowned retail association that plays an important role in promoting trade between China and the United States. He proposed stepping up the partnership between the Canton Fair and NRF, helping more American retailers benefit from the biannual event.

In turn, Shay said that he had come to learn from the Fair, predicting that bilateral trade between China and the U.S. would keep growing. There is great potential for further development: Sino-American trade totaled $484.7 billion last year, up from $2.45 billion in 1979, and the two countries are now each other's second largest trading partners respectively.

"The NRF and the China Foreign Trade Centre enjoy a cooperative partnership," Shay continued. "This allows NRF to present U.S. retail insights at the Canton Fair, while promoting Canton Fair at the BIG Show, NRF's largest annual convention in New York, which draws nearly 30,000 attendees from around the world."

American attendance at the Canton Fair is perennially strong, with the event typically drawing 10,000 attendees from the U.S. The Fair also attracts many of the world's largest retailers: 66 of the world's 250 largest retailers attended in 2012, including six of the top 10.

Canton Fair organizers now look forward to welcoming all attendees to the 114th installment of the event, set to kick off on October 15 this year.

For further information please visit:http://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/index.asp

SOURCE The Canton Fair