The 19th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit with the theme of "Sharing New Opportunities of RCEP and Promoting China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0" will be held in Nanning, Guangxi from September 16 to 19. What will be the difference between this China-ASEAN Expo and the summit? At the press conference held by the State Council Information Office on the 29th, relevant persons in charge of the Ministry of Commerce, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region introduced the relevant situation.
Conspiring for "New Opportunities": The Exhibition Area Returns to the Level Before the Epidemic
This year is the first year of China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, the first year that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) came into effect, and the construction of version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area is about to start.
Zhang Shaogang, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said that under this background, the success of this CAEXPO and the summit is crucial to further strengthening and enhancing the practical cooperation between the business circles of China and ASEAN under the new situation and building a closer China-ASEAN community of shared future will play a positive role in promoting.
Cai Lixin, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and executive vice chairman, introduced through video that enterprises are enthusiastic about participating in the new opportunities. At present, the group exhibition of the China-ASEAN Expo has been completed. The total exhibition area is 102,000 square meters, and the foreign exhibition area accounts for about 30%. pre-pandemic levels.
Presenting "new features": the rising point of internationalization
“The CAEXPO on the cloud runs online throughout the year, the China-ASEAN Economic and Trade Center is officially in operation, and the China-ASEAN Featured Commodities Convergence Center will be unveiled during the expo to provide reserved, purchased, and regular displays of exhibits to create a never-ending CAEXPO. "Cai Lixin said.
The continuous expansion of new partners and the increase in the degree of internationalization of the exhibition is a major feature of this year's China-ASEAN Expo. According to Cai Lixin, it is the first time for Vietnam to book a pavilion, and the demand for booths and the scale of participation in Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, and the Philippines have increased significantly. There are 29 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and 5 cities with independent planning in China, as well as Hong Kong and Macao participating in the exhibition.
In the context of RCEP implementation, this CAEXPO and summit will highlight the key points and characteristics of China-ASEAN cooperation, and expand cooperation with Japan, South Korea and other RCEP countries.
According to reports, South Korea will serve as the specially invited partner of this year, set up the Korean National Pavilion for the first time, and hold the "Guangxi Tour of Korean Enterprises" for the first time. During the conference, the "Guangxi Tour of Japanese Enterprises" will continue to be held. In addition, companies from 17 countries including France have participated in the "Belt and Road" exhibition area, and 22 provinces and municipalities from 18 countries including Italy have participated in the exhibition of "Guangxi International Sister Cities into East Expo".
Introducing "new measures": many "firsts" will be unveiled
It is the first time to set up ASEAN and RCEP boutique exhibition areas, the first time to hold ministerial-level high-level forums in five fields including the construction industry, and the first time to set up an exhibition area for Guangxi to fully connect with Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area...Many "firsts" highlight the new features of this CAEXPO and summit move.
Talking about further deepening economic and trade cooperation with ASEAN, Li Fei, Assistant Minister of Commerce, said that he will continue to implement RCEP with high quality and promote the construction of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0; increase cooperation in China-ASEAN Eastern Growth Area, Lancang-Mekong and other sub-regions investment; support ASEAN countries to expand exports of high-quality products to China, and support capable Chinese companies to invest in ASEAN; further promote the integrated development of regional industrial chains and supply chains.
Cai Lixin said that she will take the opportunity of establishing the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership to conduct in-depth discussions on the construction of version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. At that time, a number of cooperation initiatives and research reports will be released, a number of cooperation mechanisms will be launched, and a number of cooperation projects will be signed to further expand the "Nanning channel".