Exhibitors and trade visitors remain enthusiastic about the 12th CAEXPO. Exhibitor applicants applied for 5,563 booths in total, 21% more than the planned ones. 2,207 exhibiting enterprises participated and 4,600 booths were arranged actually. Among them, 1,296 booths were used by exhibitors from the 10 ASEAN countries and countries beyond the China-ASEAN FTA, up by 2.9% over the previous session, taking up 38.1% of the booths at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center. 6 ASEAN countries including Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam continued to charter exhibition halls for their commodity pavilions. 85 buying missions were attracted, up by 5% compared with last year. An increase of 2,500 trade visitors was organized by the CAEXPO Secretariat from the year earlier. A series of trade and investment promotion programs were arranged during the fair period, making the CAEXPO produce richer practical outcomes.

(I) Trade in goods is thriving and investment cooperation turns fruitful, promoting the upgrade of the China-ASEAN FTA. 84 investment promotion programs were held during the fair period, plus with procurement and sourcing conferences for specific countries and industrial sectors, to promote the conclusion of many trade deals. Distinctive products of ASEAN countries such as rice, coffee, wood furniture and handicrafts and made-in-China food processing and packaging machinery, electronics and electrical appliances were the most popular among buyers. Many exhibitors said they have met and talked with more trade visitors representing different countries, and a large number of trade visitors said they can easily find the products they were interested in, like smart bracelets and 3D printers, etc. The 12th CAEXPO greatly boosted bilateral trade in goods between China and ASEAN.

As for investment cooperation, the inaugural ceremony for the joint exhibition on the Twin Parks in Two Countries between China and Malaysia, the promotion conferences on the 10 ASEAN countries, the CAEXPO Roundtable Meeting on Investment Cooperation and Promotion Conference on ASEAN Industrial Parks, the business networking with Chinese economic and commercial counselors in ASEAN countries and project investment and fund raising seminars, etc. have been held. These programs gave presentations on investment climate and policies and specific cooperation projects, arranged face-to-face talks between investors and representatives of industrial parks and promoted city-to-city exchanges and networking between banks and enterprises. Hong Kong, the city of charm of China for the 12th CAEXPO, arranged a special business networking to promote its cooperation with the Chinese Mainland and ASEAN countries in finance, modern services, creative industry and culture, logistics, tourism and infrastructure construction. It also launched the Guangxi-Hong Kong Modern Vocational Education Development Center in the province. The SMEs Cross-border Investment and Trade Cooperation Symposium sponsored by Bank of China emerged as the largest event that features the largest number of enterprises and the most extensive influence since the Bank of China launched cross-border matching business. The symposium attracted 500 SMEs around the world and agreements on cooperation intention were concluded at 67% of the business talks. At the symposium, the Bank of China Singapore Branch and the China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund concluded on site an MOU on Comprehensive Cooperation, the Thailand Nong Khai Industrial Park, the Bank of China Thailand Branch and the Beijing Huaronghui Co., Ltd. signed the agreements of cooperation, and Guangxi Huanjiang Fenglin Co., Ltd. inked cooperation agreement with a Malaysian company. Additionally, the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road: Business Networking for Renowned Enterprises and Eminent Professionals facilitated interactions between China, the ASEAN member states and other surrounding countries. 8 major projects on investment cooperation and talent training were contracted. A large number of international cooperation projects have been concluded at the 12th CAEXPO. Such projects of high quality cover a wide range of fields and would contribute considerable drive to build the Belt and the Road. Those related to industrial sectors of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road such as cross-border trade and logistics and industrial parks, increased by nearly 50% in contrast to the previous sessions. For example, Chia Tai Group of Thailand and Guangxi Construction Engineering Group Corporation concluded an agreement on cooperation. Likewise, a Chinese company in Shenzhen signed a cooperation project on energy conservation with Thailand.

(II) It is the first time for the CAEXPO to highlight international capacity cooperation. The China-ASEAN International Cooperation Series Activities 2015 jointly sponsored by the National Development and Reform Commission of China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, the Ministry of Commerce of China and the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhang Autonomous Region turned out fruitful results.

First, diverse activities to promote cooperation. The Series activities included the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and Promoting International Capacity and Equipment Manufacturing Cooperation Forum, the International Economic and Capacity Cooperation Exhibition, the project matching program for investors and owners of international capacity and equipment manufacturing cooperation projects and bilateral meetings between the National Development and Reform Commission of China and its counterparts in ASEAN countries. By combing exhibitions and forums, we have provided, in a full-fledged manner, platforms and channels for further exchanges and cooperation, greatly moved forward and ushered the international capacity cooperation and equipment manufacturing cooperation between China and ASEAN into a new stage.