Nanning: The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) commenced on Thursday in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, spotlighting new business opportunities under the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) 3.0 framework. Running from September 17 to 21, the expo has attracted more than 3,400 companies from over 70 countries and regions. The exhibition area covers about 170,000 square meters, with participating enterprises up 5.3% from the previous edition.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Timor-Leste is participating for the first time as a full ASEAN member and co-host, bringing all 11 ASEAN member states together in Nanning. AI and the newly opened Pinglu Canal are also key focuses of this year's expo, with dedicated exhibition areas showcasing their potential to drive regional cooperation.
The latest CGTN survey reveals that 90.9% of global respondents believe the continued hosting of CAEXPO demonstrates China's commitment to high-standard opening up. Meanwhile, 89.5% see the expo as an important platform for business exchanges, industrial matchmaking, and sharing regional development opportunities.
The expo is taking place as China and ASEAN begin implementing the upgraded CAFTA 3.0 framework, aimed at facilitating trade, strengthening supply chains, and expanding cooperation into emerging sectors. Science and technology authorities and high-tech institutions from countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand have sent delegations to the expo.
China's advances in areas such as AI, electric vehicles, and renewable energy were highlighted by Destarata Mustafa, counselor for political affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, expressing hope to expand cooperation with China in these fields. More than 50 trade and investment promotion activities are being held during the expo, focusing on trade and investment facilitation, regional economic integration, and cross-border industrial and supply chain cooperation.
AI is prominently featured at this year's expo, with dedicated exhibition areas at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center and the newly established Nanning AI Compound. The AI exhibition area showcases products and technologies from consumer applications to intelligent terminals, while the Nanning AI Compound hosts more than 150 AI companies presenting applications across 11 themed sections.
The newly opened Pinglu Canal is another highlight, featuring a dedicated exhibition area showcasing the 134.2-kilometer waterway and its potential to strengthen regional connectivity. The canal is expected to shorten shipping distances between southwest China and Southeast Asia by more than 560 kilometers, reduce logistics costs significantly, and save billions annually.
The canal enhances the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor linking western China with Southeast Asia. According to the CGTN survey, 87.6% of respondents indicated that efficient multimodal transport will further facilitate regional trade and investment as China-ASEAN trade continues to expand. In the first seven months of 2026, trade between the two sides reached $744.41 billion, up 24.7% year on year and accounting for 21.8% of China's total foreign trade.