China-ASEAN expo helps to boost ties, upgrade FTAs

The 14th China - ASEAN Expo helped further enhance economic and trade relations between China and its Southeast Asian partners, as well as promote cooperation on international capacity, said the organizer on Friday.

Wang Lei, secretary-general of the expo's secretariat, said at the closing ceremony that the event also helped "achieve remarkable results" in upgrading the free trade agreement between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The two sides have signed a protocol in 2015 on upgrading the free trade agreement, which took effect on July 1, 2016.

Wang said this year's CAEXPO concluded with a record number of exhibitors – 2,709. Last year, the figure stood at 2,669.

"The main venue covered a total area of 124,000 square meters, with 6,600 booths. The ASEAN member countries and other foreign countries used an exhibition area of 33,000 square meters. Each of Eight ASEAN member countries occupied a pavilion only for its products."

According to Wang, purchasing agents from 68 economies and 4,000 international buyers showed their attendance this year. They mainly came from the ASEAN countries, Europe, United States, Latin America, the Middle East, South Asia and Africa.

Eighty activities were held for trade promotion. ASEAN's food and beverage, consumer goods, and light crafts saw a brisk trade. China's best-selling goods included machinery and equipment, electronic appliances, construction materials.

In terms of investment cooperation, deals covered a wide range of sectors such as logistics, intelligent robots, bio-medicine, high technology, agriculture, and energy conservation.

China is ASEAN's largest trading partner. ASEAN is the third-largest partner and a major investment destination for China.