China-Asean Expo a big hit

MANILA, Philippines - The 6th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) generated a record trade volume worth $1.654 billion, up 3.8 percent increase from last year’s level, Guangxi Vice Governor Wu Chen said over the weekend.

In a press conference held an hour before the five-day activity officially came to a close Saturday afternoon, Chen said trade volume for ASEAN countries which participated in the exposition also increased, reflecting “a new high” also in overall trade volume.

Chen said both the 6th CAEXPO and the 6th China-ASEAN Business Investment Summit (CABIS) which sought to “pragmatically promote China-ASEAN cooperation (has) gained remarkable achievements.”

According to him, 2,450 enterprises took part as exhibitors with 4,000 exhibition booths provided thus reflecting a 16.7 percent and 17.6 percent increase respectively compared to last year’s trade fair statistics.

“Countries and regions from ASEAN and others (used) 1,267 booths, accounting for 31.7 percent of the total.

Chen said investment cooperation has been more effective and fruitful with 44 business promotion programs held during the last five days with 136 international economic cooperation projects signed valued at $6.44 billion.

He added that 204 domestic economic cooperation projects were also signed worth 61.845 billion RMB, 1.05 percent more than the previous session.

“The 6th CAEXPO maintains the good momentum of fast growth in China-ASEAN cooperation, with eight of ASEAN countries signing 59 international cooperation projects totaling $3.178 billion, accounting for 43.4 percent and 49.4 percent of the total of international cooperation projects and total amounts, respectively,” he announced.