China-ASEAN Expo and Summit promises closer ties

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc introduces Vietnamese coffee to Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli on the sidelines of the 2016 CAEXPO in Nanning on September 11, 2016.

The 13th China-ASEAN Expo, with the theme “Jointly Building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road,” taking place this week on September 11-14, will highlight the International Economic and Industrial Capacity Cooperation Exhibition.

Prioritising infrastructure construction and equipment supply, this exhibition will be enriched with innovations in science and technology, metallurgy, and building materials, as well as financial services, aiming at practically strengthening industrial cooperation, equipment manufacturing, economy, trade, and investment among China, the ASEAN, and other countries along the Belt and Road.

China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) is co-sponsored by ministries and departments of commerce or industry and trade from China and the ten ASEAN member states as well as the ASEAN Secretariat, and is organized by the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The leaders of China and the 10 ASEAN participants will be presenting the opening ceremony and jointly inaugurating both events.

The opening ceremony was held at a new venue, the Osmanthus Hall of Nanning International Convention & Exhibition Centre. It is the first time that an art performance has been arranged as a pre-show warm-up. Artists from Vietnam (Country of Honour at the 13th CAEXPO) were invited to play the single-string instrument, enchanting the audience with the charm unique to Vietnamese folk art.

This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN dialogue, the first year of the ASEAN Community, and the efforts to upgrade the China-ASEAN FTA.

At the ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that Vietnam stands ready to do its part as a bridge between the ASEAN Economic Community and China, work with other ASEAN countries to strengthen all-round cooperation, maintain peace and stability, and settle differences in a mutually beneficial way for all sides in order to contribute to the peace, cooperation, development and prosperity in the region.

He stated that the ASEAN-China partnership looks back on number major achievements over the past 25 years, to many of which Viet Nam has made significant contributions.

On the same day, Phuc chatted with Chinese business chief executive officers at a roundtable talk, where he called for investments as well as clarified Vietnam’s requirements on technology, environmental issues, and labour.