This year's China-ASEAN Expo will be held both online and offline in Nanning, capital of South China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, from Sept 10 to 13, with Laos being selected as the Country of Honor. 

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Laos in 1961, the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has seen rapid growth.

China has become the second largest trading partner of and the largest foreign direct investor in Laos. In 2020, the trade volume between both sides totaled $3.55 billion, of which China’s exports were $1.49 billion and imports were $2.06 billion. The accumulated value of construction project contracts signed by Chinese enterprises in Laos reached $2.63 billion, an increase of 22.2 percent from last year.

Positive progress has been made across major projects, with construction of the China-Laos railway, the Vientiane-Vangvieng section of the China-Laos expressway, and the Xaysetha Comprehensive Development Zone in Vangvieng, having all steadily advanced.

As one of the most important projects in Laos, under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI), the China-Laos railway will open to traffic at the end of 2021.

The Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, a key crossroads providing western China with full access to global markets, has also striven to promote business cooperation with Laos.

In 2020, the bilateral trade volume amounted to 593 million yuan ($91.78 million), and the non-financial contracted investment of Guangxi enterprises in Laos hit $225 million, with the accumulated construction project contract value having reached $153 million.

Cultural and educational exchanges have also been strengthened between both sides. The Consulate-General of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in Nanning was officially opened on Oct 19, 2009.

This year’s expo will be Laos’s third time being selected as the Country of Honor, after 2009 and 2020. Throughout its Expo journey, 727 Laotian exhibitors have set up 1,682 booths to display characteristic commodities, such as wooden furniture, handicrafts, and agricultural products. National promotional meetings and investment cooperation forums have also been held to help deepen economic ties.

An exhibitor promotes imported goods via livestreaming, during last year’s  China-ASEAN Expo held in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, in November. [Photo/Xinhua]

The year marks the 30th anniversary of dialogue relations between China and the ASEAN, and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-Laos diplomatic relations. 

As the Country of Honor, Laos will hold a series of thematic activities, such as the opening ceremony of the “charming cities”, the business and trade cooperation forum, and the symposium between leaders of Laos and Chinese entrepreneurs to fortify China-Laos trade ties, which aims to facilitate international cooperation under the BRI, and cultivate a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.