Nearly 80 Vietnamese businesses have authorized their branches, agents or partners in China to participate in the 17th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO 2020) which opened in Nanning, China, on November 27. 

10 ASEAN countries and China are participating in the 17th CAEXPO from
November 27-30. (Photo: cantonfair.net)

In a video clip aired at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc reviewed ASEAN-China cooperation in recent times, saying in the first half of this year ASEAN, for the first time, became China’s largest trading partner, obtaining a trade value of US$300 billion, of which 20% came from Vietnam.

He went on to say that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN and China have been one of a few pairs of partners worldwide to post positive growth since early this year.

The Vietnamese PM also affirmed Vietnam always has the largest number of participating businesses and booths at all CAEXPOs so far.

During this year’s event, Vietnamese businesses were allocated more than 2,000 square meters to display products of high competitiveness in China and ASEAN, including agro-forestry and fishery products and processed food, furniture and handicrafts, consumer goods, as well as tourism and commercial services.

The Vietnamese Ministry Industry and Trade also set up an area to introduce Vietnam’s potential for investment, trade and tourism development, along with the country’s typical export items.

China has played host to annual CAEXPO, an important platform to promote cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, tourism, contributing to forming and developing the ASEAN - China Free Trade Area.