22nd China - ASEAN Expo spotlights technological, economic collaboration
China has remained ASEAN's largest trade partner for 16 consecutive years. Meanwhile, ASEAN has been China's largest trade partner for the past five years
The 22nd China - ASEAN Expo is taking place in Nanning city of China. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)ꦚ - The 22nd China - ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and the China - ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) opened in Nanning, Guangxi on September 17, underscoring technological and economic cooperation between China and ASEAN.
The five-day event spans nearly 160,000 sq.m and features more than 3,200 companies from 60 countries. For the first time, the expo includes a 10,000-square-meter hall dedicated to artificial intelligence, the largest single-theme pavilion in its history.
The AI emphasis comes as the China–ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA), the world’s largest free trade zone among developing countries, is set to be upgraded to version 3.0. Negotiations concluded in May, with a formal signing expected by later this year.
In his opening speech, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng said the China–ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has steadily grown, becoming one of the Asia-Pacific’s most dynamic regional cooperation models and a vivid example of building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Han hailed CAEXPO and CABIS as important platforms to strengthen China–ASEAN friendship and regional development, urging participants to fully leverage these platforms to share opportunities and shape the future together.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, meanwhile, said CAEXPO has evolved over two decades from a trade and investment fair into a catalyst for deeper integration, innovation and long-term growth.
The CAFTA 3.0 sends a strong signal that ASEAN and China remain committed to upholding a rules-based trading system, even amidst rising geopolitical tensions and global uncertainties, Kao said, adding that the CAFTA 3.0 goes further by making technology and innovation central to cooperation, while deepening supply chain integration and regional prosperity.
The theme of this year's expo, "Digital Intelligence and Innovation Empower Development - Leveraging China-ASEAN FTA 3.0: New Opportunities for an Even Closer China-ASEAN Community with a Shared Future", also highlights the role of technology in boosting bilateral trade and cooperation.
Official data showed that bilateral trade has keep growing, with China remaining ASEAN's largest trade partner for 16 consecutive years. Meanwhile, ASEAN has been China's largest trade partner for the past five years./.
Vietnam is ready to deepen economic cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China and other partners, embracing a strategy of “harmonised interests and shared risks” as it leverages its fast-growing economy and market of over 100 million people.
The ACFTA, launched in 2000, became one of the world’s largest free trade agreements by 2010, when Version 1.0 eliminated tariffs on over 90% of traded goods.
Vietnam proposed maintaining and strengthening the role of the annual ministerial conference as a key mechanism to address common issues and develop concrete action initiatives, conducting joint in-depth research programmes on pressing topics such as smart cities, climate change adaptation, and heritage preservation in the digital environment at the 2025 China-ASEAN Ministerial Roundtable on Construction.
Under the deal, about 80% of Indonesia’s exports to the EU will see tariffs eliminated within one to two years after the agreement takes effect. This marks an important step following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement in July that the two sides had reached a 'political agreement' on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
The Indonesian Government has just unveiled a plan to roll out five priority programmes in 2025, aiming to generate more than 3 million new jobs while fostering sustainable economic growth and enhancing the competitiveness of its agro-fishery sectors.
Running through September 20, the event marks the first time an official platform has been created within the AIPA framework to connect the private sector with policymakers, aiming to discuss pressing issues such as economic growth, sustainability, digitalisation, and social inclusion.
Colonel David Dwi Martin W, Director of Training for the Indonesian Air Force, said that the exercise helps deepen ties between the two air forces while fostering mutual trust and respect between the two nations.
In its initial phase, the programme will recruit 20,000 fresh graduates. Each participant will receive a monthly stipend equal to the provincial minimum wage — currently 3.3 million IDR (200 USD) — for a six-month period.
ASEAN Express, a new cross-border freight rail service, is being hailed as a breakthrough in international rail connectivity, expected to strengthen Thailand’s and ASEAN’s economic competitiveness in the near future.
An illegal wildlife trade case involving 16 protected eagles has been busted in Central Bangka district, Bangka Belitung Islands province of Indonesia.
Singapore has been ranked fifth among 139 economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, marking the third consecutive year it has remained in the top five.
Senior defence officials of the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Philippines discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in defence and weapon industry at their meeting in Seoul on September 15.
From September 16, residents and visitors can enjoy a safer, cleaner, and higher-quality travel option aboard the company’s signature cyan taxis, with special promotions available for new users.
The declaration, endorsed at the ASEAN Prosecutors/Attorneys General Meeting (APAGM) in Bali, commits regional prosecutors to closer coordination in addressing transnational offenses such as online gambling, scams, corruption, money laundering, and cross-border asset smuggling.
CAMEX features 17 themed pavilions, including 10 dedicated to ASEAN member states – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – as well as a regional pavilion from Guangxi, China. It also hosts a special World Halal Trade Centre and themed areas for other Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) members such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
The Indonesian government has confirmed that it will stop providing incentives for imported completely built-up (CBU) battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from 2026.
The ministry warned that the RSV can easily spread through mucus, saliva and toys around children. Currently, there is no specific treatment or RSV vaccine for children, so families were urged to take preventive measures.
Thailand has emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing markets for artificial intelligence (AI), with OpenAI reporting that weekly active users of ChatGPT in the country have quadrupled over the past year.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is driving forward the Land Bridge mega-project, valued at nearly 1 trillion THB (31.5 billion USD), to stimulate the economy and attract long-term investment.
A discussion on Vietnamese cuisine, culture and tourism was held in Tel Aviv on September 14, aiming to deepen the understanding of Vietnamese culture and promote people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and Israel, especially as the two countries expand cooperation across multiple fields.
