An online promotion for the China-ASEAN Mercantile Exchange was held on Feb 18, hosting nearly 200 attendees from Guangxi and ASEAN countries to jointly explore business opportunities.

The China-ASEAN Mercantile Exchange is set to cover a total of 1 million square meters and will be constructed in two phases. Large-scale companies, distinctive products, and brands in ASEAN and countries alongside the Belt and Road will be introduced to the mercantile exchange. The exchange will mainly focus on business forms such as online and on-site exhibitions, cross-border e-commerce, cross-border logistics, and digital trade. 

The design and construction of the exchange's first phase are underway and are set to start operation in September 2022 during the 19th CAEXPO.

Wang Lei, secretary-general of the China-ASEAN Expo Secretariat, speaks during the online promotion. [Photo/gxzf.gov.cn]

Wang Lei, secretary-general of the China-ASEAN Expo Secretariat, spoke highly of the CAEXPO as being one of the most successful regional economic and trade cooperation platforms. The exchange center will be the first stop for ASEAN merchants to enter the Chinese market upon operation and will provide a vital window for Chinese merchants to expand into global markets. 

Wang added that the CAEXPO exhibitors can share giant flows of commodities, capital, and information brought by the event by settling in the exchange achieving a normal exhibition. 

Suwit Ratanachinda, director of the Thai International Freight Forwarders Association, said that the exchange will create excellent opportunities for the market revival left by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will bring new chances for companies in member countries under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Ratanachinda added that a branch of China-ASEAN Mercantile Exchange is set to be established in Thailand.

广西建设中国—东盟特色商品汇聚中心 将成东盟商家进入中国市场首站

“中国—东盟特色商品汇聚中心（以下简称汇聚中心）的建设，将为当下因疫情而低迷的市场复苏创造良机，为《区域全面经济伙伴关系协定》（RCEP）成员国企业带来新的商机，我们已计划在泰国设立汇聚中心的分支机构。”泰国国际货运代理协会总裁苏威特18日说。

当天，中国—东盟特色商品汇聚中心推介会在线上举办，中国—东盟博览会（简称东博会）秘书处秘书长王雷，马来西亚、缅甸、泰国、越南驻南宁领事官员，以及东盟各国商协会、广西有关商协会及相关产业的企业代表近两百人展开深入交流，共寻新商机。王雷在致辞中介绍，东博会举办18届以来，已成为最成功的区域经贸合作平台之一。为实现永不落幕的东博会，更好服务中国—东盟自贸区3.0版建设，东博会秘书处和中新南宁国际物流园共同打造了汇聚中心。该中心以“共商、共建、共享、共赢”为理念，将成为东盟商家进入中国市场的首站，中国商家拓展国际市场的重要窗口。

王雷表示，汇聚中心项目总建筑面积约100万平方米，计划分两期建设，将引进大型知名企业、特色商品及“一带一路”沿线国家品牌企业，主要业态功能以各国特色商品线上线下展示、跨境电商、跨境物流、展馆运营、数字贸易、数字技术服务等为主。

目前，汇聚中心正在按计划稳步推进一期各展馆的设计及建设工作，计划于2022年9月第19届东博会期间正式运营。

“东博会参展企业入驻汇聚中心，可分享东博会带来的巨大商品流、资金流、信息流，并通过汇聚中心实现展品留购销售和常态展示。”王雷说。他表示，东博会秘书处将采取支持招商引流、加强平台联动、支持宣传推广等多种举措助力汇聚中心建设运营。

新加坡物流协会主席林辉煌当天表示，当前，新加坡和中国合作日益紧密，汇聚中心提供的系列服务，将极大助力物流业及经贸发展，让更多商家找到投资及贸易机会，吸引更多的新加坡商家到中国投资兴业。

“新加坡在国际金融服务方面具备优势，通过参与汇聚中心平台建设，可以带动更多东盟国家企业分享中国发展的红利。”林辉煌说。

新加坡太平船务集团执行主席、广西新中产业投资有限公司董事长张松声看好汇聚中心发展前景，他表示，汇聚中心将为企业开拓市场提供“一站式”服务平台，参与东博会商家将拥有更大发展机遇。