Over 3,400 companies to participate in the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo

More than 3,400 companies from over 70 countries and regions will participate in the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo, up 5.3 percent from the previous session, an official said on Wednesday.

The five-day expo, which opens on Thursday in Nanning, capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, will cover about 170,000 square meters, Deng Bo, deputy director-general of the Foreign Trade Development Bureau under the Ministry of Commerce, said.

The event will highlight the latest achievements in China-ASEAN cooperation and new business opportunities arising from the upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0, Deng said at a news conference on Wednesday.

ASEAN exhibitors are expanding beyond traditional sectors such as agriculture and handicrafts into higher-value industries including digital communications, environmental protection and artificial intelligence.

Science and technology authorities and high-tech institutions from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are among those sending delegations to the expo.

AI will be a particular focus this year. A dedicated AI marketplace will showcase more than 500 products, including smart glasses, wearable devices and rehabilitation robots, with some available for visitors to try and purchase.

Exhibition areas focusing on the digital economy and green and low-carbon development have also been upgraded to showcase smart technologies and carbon-neutral solutions for ASEAN markets.