GUANGZHOU — The China Import and Export Fair held in South China's Guangdong province will expand its total exhibition construction area by 40 percent, according to local authorities on Dec 18.

The expansion project of the expo, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off on Dec 18 and will create 5,000 new stands and set up a meeting center of 50,000 square meters to cope with the growing number of exhibitors over the years.

A command center covering 90,000 square meters will also be built, including training, office, and other supporting facilities.

The expanded exhibition building, and the meeting center attached to it, will likely be completed by the end of July 2022. The command center will go into use in late 2023.

The Canton Fair is considered an important barometer of China's foreign trade.