Canton Fair to open April 15

CHINA’S time-honored trade fair, China Import and Export Fair, will hold its 131st event online from April 15 to April 24 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday.

Held since 1957, the fair, also known as the Canton Fair, is held twice a year in Guangzhou to facilitate global trade. It was held both online and offline for the first time in autumn last year. The 10-day spring session includes online exhibitions, market match-making and cross-border e-commerce. It will offer the 25,000-plus domestic and overseas exhibitors a variety of online services such as online showcases, business exchanges and product launches. No fees will be charged from participating exhibitors and cross-border e-commerce platforms, the ministry said.

Chemical sectors to go greener, smarter by 2025

THE country pursues greener and smarter petrochemical and chemical sectors in the 2021-2025 period, according to an official guideline released Thursday.

About 70 chemical industrial parks with competitive advantages will be set up by 2025, with their output accounting for over 70% of the sectors’ total output, said the development guideline issued by government agencies including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

JD.com appoints new CEO

JD.COM Inc. said Thursday Lei Xu, president of the Chinese e-commerce giant, has been appointed as the chief executive officer (CEO) and will succeed Richard Liu, effective immediately.

Xu will also join the company’s board as an executive director, while Liu will retain his title as the board chairman, JD.com said. Last year, the company said Liu would step away from the day-to-day operations, handing those responsibilities over to Xu and switching his focus to JD.com’s long-term strategy. Liu, who started the company that would become JD.com in 1998, will also spend more time mentoring younger management and contributing to the revitalization of rural areas.

Hongqi electric luxury cars enter Israeli market

FAW Car has started selling Hongqi electric luxury cars in Israel, the Israeli car import dealership Samelet Group said Wednesday.

Hongqi is China’s iconic car brand established in 1958 and has been used as the vehicle for parades at national celebrations. The first model offered in Israel is the Hongqi E-HS9, a full-size smart electric SUV with a length of 5.209 meters and a wheelbase of 3.11 meters.