From September 17 to 21, the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit were held in Nanning, Guangxi, attracting more than 3,200 companies from 60 countries and regions around the world to participate in the exhibition.

The theme of this year's ASEAN Expo is "Empowering development through digital intelligence, innovation leads the future - using new opportunities in the China-ASEAN Free Trade Zone 3.0 version to help build a community of shared future", which focuses on displaying the latest development achievements of China and ASEAN countries in emerging industry cooperation, trade and investment exchanges, and cultural exchanges and mutual learning, and has built an important platform to promote friendly exchanges between China and ASEAN and deepen regional development cooperation.

Broad opportunities for cooperation in artificial intelligence

The 10,000 square meter artificial intelligence hall and the new quality productivity hall created for the first time at the China International Fair this year are particularly eye-catching. Here, the robot shows off its "eighteen martial arts": some practice boxing skills with the audience, while others dance vibrant street dance. This year's ASEAN Expo made artificial intelligence "sing the lead" and held the China-ASEAN Ministers' Forum for Artificial Intelligence for the first time, and released a list of future unicorn companies for China's AI going overseas for ASEAN. Artificial intelligence or artificial intelligence empowering exhibits account for more than 50% of the Chinese exhibition areas.

Indonesian artificial intelligence startups participated in the East China Expo for the first time this year. The company's general manager Viveka told reporters that the AI ASEAN enterprise theme exhibition area set up by the Artificial Intelligence Hall provides an important platform for ASEAN countries' artificial intelligence enterprises to connect with the Chinese market and expand cooperation. "China's artificial intelligence technology is in a leading position. We have learned from the experience of many Chinese companies and look forward to the continuous deepening of artificial intelligence cooperation between ASEAN and China," said Viveka.

"The East China Expo has enhanced our mutual understanding with Chinese companies. We and China Beitou Information Innovation Group jointly build and operate the China-Malaysia Artificial Intelligence Innovation Cooperation Center, strengthen R&D cooperation in cutting-edge algorithms, digital technology, intelligent transportation and other fields, and serve the people of Malaysia and China." said Guo Liangming, marketing manager of Malaysia MYEG Group.

ASEAN Secretary-General Gao Jinhong said that China's artificial intelligence technology is developing very rapidly, and ASEAN and China have broad prospects for cooperation in this field. "ASEAN expects deeper and broader ASEAN-China artificial intelligence cooperation, which is consistent with the development goals of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Zone 3.0 version and will further promote the economic development of both sides."

Regional economic integration benefits all parties

"I saw durian oil for the first time and learned that it can be used for skin care and hair care." Guangxi foreign trader Meng Lanmei told reporters, "I come to the East Expo almost every year, and I have new discoveries every time." She enthusiastically tried durian oil in front of the booth of Vietnam's Royal Avocado Import and Export Co., Ltd. This Vietnamese company participated in the ASEAN Expo for the first time and reached a trade cooperation intention with four Chinese companies on the first day.

Last year, the Maosan King durian ice cream of Malaysian Durian Big Brother Co., Ltd. won the gold medal in the exhibition selection event of the East Expo. This year, the company arrived again as scheduled. "After winning the award last year, our ice cream products have continued to expand in China. With the continuous advancement of the construction of China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park and Guangxi accelerated the construction of a cross-regional cross-border industrial chain and supply chain, it is more convenient for our durian ice cream to arrive in the Chinese market from Malaysia." Huang Guoqiang, the founder of the company, said that ASEAN and China's economic ties are becoming increasingly close, which is a huge development opportunity for both companies.

"Despite uncertainty in the global economy, ASEAN and China are still each other's largest trading partners, and direct investment between the two sides has grown steadily." Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Cambodia's Cambodian Office Onsaiweiso said at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Zone that the construction of the 3.0 version of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Zone will promote regional economic integration into a new stage, not only promoting trade growth, but will also benefit both companies and people in the fields of digital economy, green economy, supply chain, interconnection, etc., and the ASEAN-China Community of Shared Future will be closer.

Pakistan’s brass handicrafts, Sri Lanka’s cinnamon spices... This year’s East China Expo also set up an international exhibition area for the “Belt and Road”, with a wide range of special products from various countries. Pakistani food businessman Alibaba told reporters that after more than 20 years of development, the platform significance of the ASEAN Expo has not been limited to China and ASEAN countries. Many neighboring countries and countries jointly building the "Belt and Road" have also actively participated in it, sharing the dividends of economic development and adding to global stability and prosperity.

Myanmar Prime Minister Niu Soo, the theme country of the ASEAN Expo, believes that the successful holding of the ASEAN Expo further deepens the comprehensive strategic partnership between ASEAN and China, builds an important platform for cooperation in the fields of trade, investment and tourism, and makes important contributions to the further development of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Zone. Newoso said that this year's ASEAN Expo will strengthen cooperation with ASEAN countries and China in the fields of trade, economy and industrial chain, and promote sustainable development and mutual benefit among countries in the region.

Cultural exchange promotes mutual understanding and blind relationship

China and ASEAN countries are connected by landscapes and cultural heritage, and friendly exchanges are long-standing. The ASEAN Expo is not only a grand event for trade and investment between China and ASEAN countries, but also an important platform for promoting personnel exchanges and people-to-people communication between the two sides.

At this year's East China Expo, Guilin City served as China's "Character City". The exhibition area presents the innovative practice and future vision of Guilin's world-class tourist city construction through cutting-edge intelligent technology. Laos Vice President Bentong introduced at the opening ceremony that Luang Namta Province serves as Laos' "College of Charming" and welcomes guests from the East Expo to visit the booth of Luang Namta Province. He said that the ASEAN Expo has made important contributions to promoting cultural exchanges between ASEAN countries and China. The ASEAN-China Cultural Exchange Year will continue to be held in 2025. The two sides continue to carry out various exchange activities to strengthen the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership with humanistic power.

Last year, the ASEAN youth leader growth plan was launched for the first time. Through the "dialogue study and study" training model, it has built an international exchange and cooperation platform for outstanding young people from both sides to enhance understanding and learn from each other. Ekatsi Sida Volahlala, Executive Deputy Deputy Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, said that the Thai delegation participated in this "greatly beneficial" project. The Thai side supports the continued implementation of the plan, promote exchanges, interactions and common progress between ASEAN countries and Chinese youth, and play a youth role in deepening ASEAN-China cooperation.

In recent years, with the continuous facilitation of visa policies in China and ASEAN countries, personnel exchanges and exchanges between the two sides have continued to be enthusiastic. From January to August this year, more than 25.244 million people from mainland China had personnel exchanges with ASEAN countries, an increase of 11.2% year-on-year. Gao Jinhong said that close personnel exchanges will promote the mutual understanding, mutual understanding and trust between ASEAN countries and Chinese people. We look forward to the ASEAN Expo further promoting cultural exchanges between the two sides and using mechanisms such as the ASEAN-China Tourism Ministers Conference to promote tourism cooperation.

Gao Jinhong also said that as a platform to continue to shape the future of ASEAN-China cooperation, the ASEAN Expo has been far more than a display window for trade and investment, but also a booster for promoting integration, stimulating innovation and achieving long-term growth after more than 20 years of development. In today's global environment full of uncertainty, the AIIE has the superior conditions to build a bridge between trade and technology, market and innovation, today's opportunities and tomorrow's possibilities.

Malaysia is the rotating presidency of ASEAN this year. Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Water Transformation Fadira said that the ASEAN Expo has made lasting contributions to promoting regional economic cooperation and coordinated development, and has brought tangible benefits to ASEAN countries and the Chinese people. This year's ASEAN Expo will further deepen the friendship, trust and economic partnership between ASEAN and China, bringing more development opportunities.