From Siti Fauziah Hasan
NANNING (China), Sept 16 (Bernama) -- The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) 2026 and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) this year focus on economic and trade cooperation, artificial intelligence (AI) and greater participation by enterprises as key drivers of China-ASEAN cooperation.
Li Pan, the deputy commander of the 23rd CAEXPO and CABIS and director of the news and publicity department as well as deputy head of the publicity department of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee, said the event has introduced several new elements and upgrades compared with previous editions.
“This year’s CAEXPO and CABIS highlight economic and trade cooperation as the main line, AI as the protagonist, and enterprises as the main players. Besides that, the total exhibition area has increased to 170,000 square metres from 160,000 square metres last year, with about 2,200 Chinese enterprises and nearly 1,000 ASEAN enterprises participating,” he said in his speech at the CAEXPO and CABIS press reception here today.
He said the exhibition areas have also expanded from two to three, with the addition of a new Nanning AI Compound, while about 50 supporting economic and trade events will be held during the expo, many of which will be led by ASEAN countries.
Li noted that enterprise and non-governmental participation has increased, including the introduction of a “big leads small” exhibition model for the first time, under which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can follow leading enterprises to expand their markets. “Relying on the AI Plus trade matching module of the AI Expo Intelligent Agent, 8,000 pairs of enterprises have already been pre-matched in advance,” he added.
He said an ASEAN entrepreneurs matchmaking and connection conference is also being held for the first time, with experts providing interpretations of “Chapter 3.0” business opportunities to help create more cooperation opportunities.
On ASEAN’s participation, Li said this year’s expo has achieved a historic breakthrough with Timor-Leste participating for the first time as a co-organiser. “This is creating a family photo scene in which all 11 member states, after ASEAN’s expansion, gather in Nanning,” he added.
Li said the expo has also introduced an ASEAN country demand exhibition. “Through the model of ASEAN countries posing questions and Chinese enterprises providing solutions, it precisely matches upstream and downstream industrial resources, attracting many ASEAN enterprises,” he continued.
On AI, Li said this year’s event adopts an integrated approach covering consumer, enterprise, government and international dimensions to showcase AI technologies and applications.
He also highlighted the opening of the Pinglu Canal to navigation, describing it as a major development in China-ASEAN connectivity. “Today, the Pinglu Canal project is completed and opened for navigation. This is a major breakthrough in hard connectivity in the China-ASEAN region and will ensure smooth two-way economic and trade exchanges between China and ASEAN countries,” he said.
Li noted that this year also marks the 35th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations and the fifth anniversary of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The 23rd CAEXPO is scheduled to take place from Sept 17 to 21 in Nanning, while CABIS is being held from Sept 17 to 19. He said the event has attracted nearly 2,000 journalists from more than 170 Chinese and foreign media organisations to Guangxi.
-- BERNAMA