Published in Indonesia's Kuril Daily and Indochina Daily; Philippine Huabao Daily

Nanning, September 28 (Xinhua) -- The East China International Fair (CIIE) supports the launch of version 3.0 of the Free Trade Zone (FTZ)

Yang Chen, reporter from China News Service

The 21st China ASEAN Expo (referred to as the East Expo), which lasted for 5 days, concluded on the 28th. The East Expo provides an opportunity for global businesses to share the dividends of China ASEAN market opening. Thanks to the expansion of new platforms, the East Expo has "closed" but not "ended", continuing to inject new impetus into promoting the early launch of the China ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 version.

Friend circle "expansion" signing new orders

At this year's East Expo, the exhibition area of ASEAN and other regions accounted for 30.4%, with 823 participating companies, accounting for 41.1%; For the first time, the Gulf country of the United Arab Emirates has been invited as a special partner, expanding our circle of friends once again.

In the exhibition area, a group of "Made in China" products full of technology and interactive fun, such as "internet famous" biomimetic robots, intelligent manned flying saucer aircraft, and interactive aerial imaging machines, have become new hotspots for check-in. The exhibition area for Malaysian durian, coffee, Laotian beer, Thai massage essential oils, Indonesian wood carvings and other products is very popular. The specialties and handicrafts of the "the Belt and Road" countries, such as dates from the United Arab Emirates, Iranian porcelain, Persian carpets, turquoise, are favored by Chinese and ASEAN businessmen.

This is our fourth time participating in the East Expo, and last year we successfully sold handicrafts to Thailand through Thai merchants we met at the event. The East Expo is one of the regular exhibitions we attend in China every year, "said Iranian handicraft merchant Madi.

The East Expo has provided a stage for all parties to enhance mutual understanding, promote investment and trade, and strengthen exchanges and connections, "said Abdullah Saleh, Deputy Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates. This will not only contribute to the sustainable growth of the regional economy, but also inject vitality into the global economic recovery and development.

This year's East Expo held a total of 36 "small and beautiful" and "refined and specialized" economic and trade docking activities, as well as a series of new product debut events. A batch of goods trade orders were signed during the meeting, including China's import of fresh durian and coconut from ASEAN and China's export of "New Three Samples" (new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, photovoltaic products) to ASEAN; There are 109 centrally signed projects, including 93 projects with an investment of over 500 million yuan, with manufacturing projects accounting for 69%.

Upgrade the "new" character and "C-position" again

New technologies, new products, new applications... At this year's East Expo, the word "new" firmly stands at the "C-position".

On the basis of the first digital technology exhibition area established at the 20th East Expo, this year's East Expo has added strategic emerging topics, providing exhibition platforms in fields such as intelligent equipment, new energy, and new materials.

Several domestic and foreign enterprises and research institutions showcased their advanced technologies for the first time during the conference. One third of the exhibits in the newly established digital technology exhibition area are on display for the first time in China; Huawei unveiled its first luxury flagship sedan equipped with the Qiankun Intelligent Driving System HUAWEI ADS3.0; Yuchai Group showcases the world's first independently developed hybrid electric drive continuously variable transmission powertrain; Enterprises from ASEAN countries have brought new renewable energy and environmentally friendly shrimp pond oxygenation devices, as well as applications that promote the safe use of antibiotics.

As ASEAN Secretary General Gao Jinhong said, "China and ASEAN are exploring new areas of technological innovation cooperation, especially emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, electric vehicles, and blue economy. Deepening cooperation in these areas will greatly advance our common goals in innovation and sustainable development

The 'Never Ending East Expo' Helps Launch Version 3.0

In order to create the "never-ending East Expo", this year's cloud based East Expo has completed optimization and upgrading, established a new enterprise resource library, and set up a supply and demand information release hall for the first time.

The reporter saw at the East Expo that buyers only need to scan the QR code on their mobile phones to register and publish their procurement needs on relevant platforms, which will be played in real-time on the digital procurement screen at the venue. The system will also match on-site exhibitors through AI, and after the exhibitors receive them, they can directly communicate with the buyers. After the exhibition, we can sustainably obtain more high-quality brands recommended by governments of various countries.

Offline, the permanent exhibition hall of the East Expo was completed and put into use during the conference period, showcasing the development history and cooperation achievements of the East Expo, dynamically updating information on enterprises, business, economy and trade, projects, rules, regulations, management, standards, policies, etc. between China and ASEAN countries, and building a new carrier for the normalized display and trading of selected products between China and ASEAN.

In addition, the previously established China ASEAN Economic and Trade Center and China ASEAN Characteristic Commodity Gathering Center continue to provide enterprises with "one-stop" economic and trade promotion services and exhibit retention services.

Wei Chaohui, Secretary General of the Secretariat of the China ASEAN Expo, stated that this year's Expo has taken a solid first step and achieved a series of important results in the first year of the new 20 years. Leaders and ministers from participating ASEAN countries reached a new consensus on the launch of the China ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 in a series of activities during the conference. The business community strengthened coordination in areas such as digital economy, green economy, and supply chain, laying a solid foundation and injecting new support for the launch of the Free Trade Area 3.0. (End)