GUANGZHOU -- Chinese President Hu Jintao has urged the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, to contribute more to the improvement of the country's openness to the outside world.

Hu made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to the 110th China Import and Export Fair, which opened Friday in Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong Province.

Praising the fair's vital role in promoting China's trade and economic relations with the rest of the world during the past 55 years, Hu said the fair has helped Chinese enterprises, products and brand names go global.

"In the 12th Five Year period (2011-2015), China will continue to stick to its opening-up strategy featuring mutual benefits and common win, and expand the breadth and depth of opening-up," noted Hu in the letter.

Hu expressed hope that the Canton Fair could adapt to the changing economic situations both at home and abroad, be innovative in fair organization and improve services, so as to contribute more to China's mutually-beneficial cooperation with other countries.