Photo: China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian

Asked about China's expectations for the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday that China stands ready to give full play to the expo to build consensus on safeguarding multilateralism and free trade, achieve higher levels of mutual benefit and win-win results, and promote the building of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

The 22nd CAEXPO is scheduled to take place in Nanning, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from September 17 to 21, under the theme of "Digital Intelligence and Innovation Empower Development - Leveraging China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 New Opportunities For An Even Closer China-ASEAN Community With A Shared Future," according to the official website of CAEXPO. 

ASEAN is a priority in China's neighborhood diplomacy and a key region for high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. Under the strategic guidance of leaders from both sides, practical cooperation between China and ASEAN has continuously deepened, and economic and trade exchanges have maintained a positive momentum. China has been ASEAN's largest trading partner since 2009, and the two sides have been each other's largest trading partners for five consecutive years, Lin noted at a regular press briefing on Tuesday. 

In May this year, the negotiations for version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area were fully completed, and it is expected that the protocol will be signed within the year, Lin said.

"CAEXPO is an important platform for deepening China-ASEAN cooperation and promoting regional economic integration," the spokesperson said, adding that China stands ready to work with ASEAN to fully utilize the role of the CAEXPO platform and leverage new opportunities from the China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 to further expand trade and mutual investment, unlock the potential for practical cooperation in various fields, consolidate consensus on upholding multilateralism and free trade, achieve mutually beneficial outcomes at a higher level, and promote the building of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. 

Global Times