ChinaAsean Expo aims to boost trade ties

NANNING: The 16th China-Asean Expo has commenced in Nanning, capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, highlighting trade and investment among China, the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) and other countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Themed “Building the Belt and Road, Realising Our Vision for a Community of Shared Future”, this year’s expo will lift the all-round friendly cooperation between China and Asean through a sequence of exhibitions, forums and activities to a new level.

Focusing on the China-Asean Strategic Partnership Vision 2030, the four-day event will aim at facilitating cooperation and consensus among high-profile participants from various countries and international organisations.

Exhibitions and activities at the expo are expected to promote China-Asean cooperation in fields including trade, investment, digital economy, science and technology, finance, e-commerce and tourism.

According to the organisers, 2,848 enterprises will participate in this year’s expo to showcase their products, up 2.4% from the event last year, including industry leaders, Fortune 500 companies and notable private businesses.

The expo participants will enjoy larger exhibition areas this year, which have expanded 10,000 sq m from last year to 134,000sq m.

Special exhibitions on building the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, Guangxi pilot free trade zone and the financial opening-up gateway for Asean will also be featured at the expo to advance the implementation of key mechanisms and projects.

The China-Asean Business and Investment Summit, a concurrent event, also kicked off yesterday and will run till Tuesday.

The expo has boosted ChinaAsean trade since its inception in 2004. China has expanded its exports of electronic products, construction materials, power equipment and construction machines, as well as technology in new energy, high-speed trains and agriculture to Asean member states.