Though trade in the world is still sluggish, the China-ASEAN Expo will put on a good show. China and ASEAN countries will gather here, centering on building a China-ASEAN community with a shared future, and to accelerate the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)’s entry into force. New cooperation hotspots such as digital economy will be deepened, dialogues and exchanges will be carried out pragmatically, and thus begins a new era of cooperation.

"Upgraded" CAEXPO expanding platform functions

To build an open cooperation platform to ensure the stability and smooth flow of the regional industrial chain and supply chain is one of the important contents of the CAEXPO in assisting China-ASEAN regional economic and trade cooperation. In November 2020, the RCEP led by ASEAN countries was signed. Wang Lei, Secretary General of the CAEXPO Secretariat, said that in order to promote the early entry into force of RCEP and consolidate the regional cooperation framework, CAEXPO will continue to build an "upgraded version" expanding the platform functions from serving "10+1" cooperation to serving RCEP.

Wang Lei said that activities such as RCEP Economic and Trade Cooperation Business Summit and training seminar on RCEP will be held during CAEXPO, highlighting the new business opportunities brought by the signing of RCEP, as well as featured industries of RCEP countries. At present, the Pavilion has attracted the participation of more than 20 countries, including Pakistan, South Korea, and Japan.

In terms of building an open cooperation and exchange platform, Achievements Exhibition on Economic and Trade Cooperation in Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations, Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum Marking the 30th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations, Commemorative Events Marking the 60th Anniversary of China-Laos Diplomatic Relations, the 30th Anniversary of China-Brunei Diplomatic Relations, and the 70th Anniversary of China-Pakistan Diplomatic Relations will be held concurrently during CAEXPO.

Special pavilions/sections are arranged for each ASEAN country, the number of participating leading enterprises in ASEAN has been increasing. Product certification and traceability systems for ASEAN exhibits has been introduced to help build a higher level of strategic partnership. Meanwhile, the 18th CAEXPO will extensively contacts with the China headquarters/offices of official and private institutions from Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, etc. to establish cooperation mechanisms.

In addition, during this CAEXPO, China-ASEAN Production Capacity and Investment Cooperation Forum, China-ASEAN Industrial Chain, Supply Chain and Value Chain Integration and Development Forum, and China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone Promotion Conference will be held to continue to promote the in-depth integration of the China-ASEAN industrial chain, and inject impetus to the joint construction of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

The 18th China-ASEAN Expo will highlight cooperation hotspots in China-ASEAN regional industrial chain and supply chain construction, increase the participation of key regions, especially the central and southwestern provinces, and participation of state-owned enterprises.

Online platform expanding "circle of friends" for international cooperation

Wang Lei said that this year's China-ASEAN Expo will consolidate the framework of On-line CAEXPO, and will strengthen technological transformation and content updates on the basis of the previous On-line CAEXPO. Live promotion conferences, product launches, and "one-to-one" video matching activities, etc., held during the CAEXPO will strengthen the linkage between offline exhibitions and online activities, the protection capabilities of network security will be strengthened to build a more convenient and efficient economic and trade cooperation platform.

At the 18th China-ASEAN Expo, leaders from China and ASEAN countries will discuss the development opportunities through online gathering; leading enterprises and leading figures in various industries in the region will participate in activities such as "online display", "online conference", "online negotiation", and "online contract signing" to expand the "circle of friends" in trade and investment.

Besides, a series of exchange activities on sci-tech and digital economy are also planned. On-line CAEXPO will be running all the year round. With improved platform operations and personnel training, it will provide China-ASEAN enterprises with year-round online display and economic and trade promotion services to accelerate and inject impetus to the building of mutual trust, mutual benefit, tolerance, innovation, and win-win of China-ASEAN Digital Economy Partnership.

Anti-epidemic cooperation enhanced to catalyze economic recovery

Focusing on the topic of "enhancing anti-epidemic cooperation and strengthening public health capacity building", the 18th China-ASEAN Expo has innovatively planned health exchange activities with rich content.

The public epidemic prevention and health section will continue to be set up in the 18th CAEXPO, showcasing China's achievements in epidemic prevention and control, as well as business opportunities in the health industry. The international anti-epidemic cooperation oriented for ASEAN will also be promoted.

No autumn fruits without spring blossoms, CAEXPO lives up to its efforts. The China-ASEAN Expo will uphold its original aspirations, focus on the hotspots of regional cooperation, and continuously improve its own value as the bridge to upgrade and build an open international exchange platform, and to promote China-ASEAN cooperation to move forward steadily regardless of all difficulties.

PV