Published on: 2026-09-17
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Nanning, September 17 /Xinhua/ — The 23rd China-ASEAN EXPO will focus on new business opportunities within the framework of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area /CAFTA/ version 3.0, with more than 3,400 enterprises from over 70 countries and regions around the world participating. This was announced by the event organizers on Wednesday.
The total area of the exhibition zone of the current EXPO, scheduled to be held from September 17 to 21 in Nanning, the administrative center of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China, is about 170,000 square meters, where the latest achievements of cooperation between China and ASEAN countries will be presented.
At the 23rd EXPO, with the main theme “Sharing Opportunities 3.0, Co-creating a Better Life,” high-tech products and projects will be presented in various fields – from traditional industries to digital communication, environmentally oriented development, and artificial intelligence (AI).
At the special area dedicated to AI, more than 500 product names will be showcased, and in the newly organized exhibition zone dedicated to demand from ASEAN countries, visitors will learn about the needs of these countries in projects and their application in areas such as transport, “smart” logistics, the use of AI, urban management, and the construction of industrial parks.
Delegations from scientific and technical departments and high-tech organizations from countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand will also participate in the EXPO.
East Timor will participate for the first time as a full member of ASEAN and co-organizer of this event, marking the first meeting in Nanning of all 11 ASEAN member states after the organization’s expansion.
More than 50 trade and economic promotion events will also take place during the EXPO, aimed at simplifying trade and investment procedures, deepening regional economic integration, and developing cross-border cooperation in production chains and supply chains.
China and ASEAN are working to accelerate the implementation of the CAFTA Upgrade Protocol version 3.0. Signed in October 2025, this protocol covers areas such as the digital economy and “green” development.
Trade and economic ties between China and ASEAN continue to grow closer. By the end of 2025, the volume of bilateral trade exceeded the $1 trillion mark for the first time, reaching $1.05 trillion, which is 7.4 percent more than the corresponding figure recorded for the entire year of 2024. In the first seven months of 2026, the total trade turnover between China and ASEAN reached $744.41 billion, increasing by 24.7 percent year-on-year, accounting for 21.8 percent of China’s total foreign trade volume for that period.
China has maintained its status as ASEAN’s largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, and ASEAN has been China’s largest trading partner for six consecutive years.
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