GUANGZHOU, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The third phase of the 125th China Import and Export Fair opened on Wednesday, giving a global stage to agricultural products from poverty-stricken areas.

Also known as the Canton Fair, the fair is held from April 15 to May 5 in Guangzhou, capital of southern China's Guangdong Province.

The third phase, from May 1 to 5, will display textiles, clothing, food and medical products. Special exhibition spaces for agricultural products are established to boost foreign trade in poverty-stricken areas and help them shake off poverty.

About 770 companies from 22 poverty-stricken cities and provinces are expected to attend the fair free of charge, said Xu Bing, a spokesperson for the Canton Fair.

The Canton Fair has served as a platform for participating companies in poor areas to access the international market, seek potential partners and establish a global marketing network, companies said.

The fair, widely seen as a barometer of China's foreign trade, holds import exhibitions in its first and third phases, with 1,000 booths booked by 650 enterprises from 38 countries and regions.

These include 383 companies from 21 countries and regions along the Belt and Road, including Russia, Poland, the Philippines and Israel.