An increased number of overseas buyers have pre-registered for the upcoming 138th China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as the Canton Fair, according to the event's organizers.

As of Thursday, 144 international business organizations have organized delegations to attend the event, marking a 12.5 percent increase from the previous session, according to the organizers.

Additionally, 207,000 buyers from 217 export markets have pre-registered, reflecting a 14.1 percent increase from the previous session, the organizers said on October 11.

The fair, held twice a year in spring and autumn, respectively, will kick off its 138th session on Wednesday in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province.

There has been significant growth in the number of buyers from the European Union, the United States, and countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, the organizers said.

The fair will cover an exhibition area of 1.55 million square meters, with a total of 74,600 booths and over 32,000 participating companies, all setting new records. Among them, about 3,600 companies will be making their debut at the fair.

The event will feature a dedicated zone for the smart healthcare industry for the first time to better showcase China's advanced products and technologies in the medical field, according to Wang Zhihua, director of the department of foreign trade at the Ministry of Commerce.

"China's digital healthcare market is growing annually, with significant development potential," said Wang, during a news conference on October 10.

The Smart Healthcare Zone includes 140 booths and features 47 leading companies in the industry, aiming to provide a platform for companies to promote their products and technologies, expand brands, and facilitate participation in the global smart healthcare market cooperation and development.

"The zone will primarily showcase upstream products and technologies in the industry chain, including medical robots, intelligent diagnostics, and healthcare and smart rehabilitation and care," said Wang.

By leveraging the fair's platform, companies can better connect with downstream sectors like digital healthcare services and terminal applications, find more partners, and boost research and innovation in the smart healthcare equipment field, according to Wang.