Shanghai, China - March 12-13, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Exterior of 2026 Appliance and Electronics World Expo (AWE2026) venue, visitors
2. Various of visitors at expo, exhibits
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Bruna, Brazilian buyer (full name not given) (ending with shot 4):
"So, the idea was to see especially the trends and the novelty, the technologies, to understand a little bit how the technology is evolving and what can be potential products to sell in the Brazilian market."
4. Various of visitors, exhibits
5. Various of visitor, exhibitor talking
6. SOUNDBITE (English) John, Estonian buyer (full name not given) (ending with shot 7):
"I saw the immigration, but actually I never even had to show my passport. The QR code was there. So, this is basically like a free trade zone. Very interesting. Because I did go through the immigration part."
7. Various of signs at immigration checkpoint; tourists
8. Board reading "AWE Eastern Hub IBCZ International Buyer Matching Conference"
9. Various of buyers, exhibitors talking
10. Various of buyer wearing smart glasses developed by Chinese company
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Rosca, Romanian Buyer (full name not given) (partially overlaid with shot 12/ending with shot 13):
"I'm from Romania. I'm looking mostly for robots and also VR (virtual reality) equipment and some other products. I think this is a good opportunity to visit AWE because I can get in touch directly with many suppliers here."
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12. Buyers, exhibitors talking
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13. Various of buyers, exhibitors talking
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Rosca, Romanian Buyer (full name not given) (partially overlaid with shot 15):
"They want robots that I use in hotels -- the hospitality industry. Because some of my friends are actually doing these kinds of events. In the past, they were asking me for other products, like LED for the stage. Now they start asking me also for the robots for these performances."
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15. Buyers, exhibitors talking
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16. Buyers, exhibitors

Eager to expand their product portfolios and explore new markets, global buyers flocked to Shanghai for the 2026 Appliance and Electronics World Expo (AWE) to scout for partners in China.

The four-day expo, which opened on Thursday, brought together more than 1,200 enterprises from around the world showcasing their latest innovations -- with over 10,000 products making their global debut.

For the first time, this year's expo features a "one exhibition, two zones" format. In addition to the main exhibition area at the Shanghai New International Expo Center, a parallel sub-exhibition zone has been set up at the Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone.

The new exhibition zone teems with international visitors. Bruna, a Brazilian buyer, is attending AWE — one of the world's top three exhibitions for household appliances and consumer electronics — for the first time. A seasoned player in import-export trade, she arrived with a clear focus.

"So, the idea was to see especially the trends and the novelty, the technologies, to understand a little bit how the technology is evolving and what can be potential products to sell in the Brazilian market," said Bruna.

The innovation of Chinese products acts as a magnet for international buyers, while the country's increasingly open institutional environment gives them the confidence to attend in person.

"I saw the immigration, but actually I never even had to show my passport. The QR code was there. So, this is basically like a free trade zone. Very interesting. Because I did go through the immigration part," said John, an Estonian Buyer.

At the international buyer matchmaking conference, every round table buzzed with lively conversation and the exchange of business cards. One attendee, wearing a pair of smart glasses developed by a Chinese company, said he had come to the expo specifically to find suppliers of intelligent devices such as robots.

"I'm from Romania. I'm looking mostly for robots and also VR (virtual reality) equipment and some other products. I think this is a good opportunity to visit AWE because I can get in touch directly with many suppliers here," said Rosca, a buyer from Romania.

He said that back in his home country, robots are rapidly becoming less of a novelty and more of a necessity. Hotels are requesting delivery robots, and a friend who organizes events has even started inquiring about renting robots that can dance.

"They want robots that I use in hotels -- the hospitality industry. Because some of my friends are actually doing these kinds of events. In the past, they were asking me for other products, like LED for the stage. Now they start asking me also for the robots for these performances," said Rosca.

AWE is becoming an excellent platform for a growing number of international buyers seeking new partnerships and business opportunities in China. According to data from the organizers, this year's expo attracted visitors from 112 countries and regions, marking a year-on-year increase of more than 30 percent.