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More exhibitors set for China-Asean Expo in October
The State Council Information Office of China, in Beijing, announced recently that the 8th China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) will be held on October 21-26 in Nanning, China.
The CAEXPO, co-sponsored by China and the 10 Asean member states, has drawn keen attention from the governments involved.
The Chinese government has held press conferences on the event for eight consecutive years. This year, the news briefing was held on July 26 in Beijing.
The CAEXPO has played an important role in promoting economic and trade cooperation between China and Asean, according to the CAEXPO Secretariat.
China International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce of China Gao Hucheng said the CAEXPO has strongly boosted the construction of the China- Asean Free Trade Area (CAFTA) and effectively promoted bilateral exchanges in various fields. It has also played an important role in bilateral economic and trade cooperation and enhanced the international influence of the two sides.
At present, China is the largest trading partner of Asean while Asean is the third largest one of China. At the end of June this year, the accumulative investment was up to nearly US$80 billion.
Gao said that the Ministry of Commerce of China will work more closely with the Asean countries to ensure the CAEXPO is more distinctive and effective.
Vice Governor of CAEXPO host province Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Chen Wu introduced the new format of the 8th CAEXPO.
Firstly, the expo will be held simultaneously at three venues – Nanning International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Guangxi Exhibition Centre and Nanning South China City – to meet the increasing demand for booths from exhibitors.
Secondly, Chinese enterprises' overseas investment will be highlighted. A roundtable meeting will be held between Chinese and Asean investment promotion agencies for the first time to improve bilateral cooperation mechanisms, along with a series of business promotion programmes.
Thirdly, there will be more colourful activities and programmes to promote the 8th CAXPO's Country of Honour, Malaysia, which will hold a number of programmes to showcase itself, including inaugural ceremonies for its City of Charm Pavilion and Pavilion of Commodity Trade, a roundtable discussion between its state leader and Chinese leading entrepreneurs and an arts show.
Fourthly, with “Environment Protection Cooperation” as the theme of the year, the expo aims to promote bilateral cooperation in different fields and at different levels. Mr Chen said that the CAEXPO would adopt more innovative measures, to make it a more distinctive event with richer outcomes, so as to offer better services for businesses in the CAFTA.
The preparations of the 8th CAEXPO are progressing well. It is reported that over 4,200 applications for booths have been received and earlier than in previous years.
Asean countries have reserved more than 1,400 booths, while six Asean counties have rented independent exhibition halls to showcase their respective exhibits and nine Asean countries have confirmed their own City of Charm Pavilions.
It is worth noting that apart from exhibitors from China and Asean nations, international buyers from countries such as Italy, France, Germany, Japan and South Korea and other regions are also interested in participating in the event. It is anticipated that more buyers will be expressing interest in the upcoming event in the near future.
Commercial counsellors and representatives of Asean embassies in China attended the press conference, which attracted Chinese mainstream media and China-based Asean media outlets.
vientiane times
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