23rd China-ASEAN Expo concludes in Nanning, China's Guangxi

The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit concluded on Sunday in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as a key driver of trade and investment cooperation between China and ASEAN countries.

Held at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center, with two sub-venues in Nanning and Guilin, the expo covered a total area of 170,000 square meters, up 10,000 square meters from the previous edition. A total of 3,432 enterprises from 73 countries and regions participated, with international exhibitors accounting for 30.5%.

This year, the event set up platforms to facilitate AI industry matchmaking between China and ASEAN, unveiling 42 AI application scenarios sought by ASEAN countries and generating nearly 100 preliminary cooperation agreements, with the intended value of deals with ASEAN countries exceeding 1 billion yuan (about $149 million), according to a closing press conference.

Wang Jicai, secretary-general of the China-ASEAN Expo Secretariat, said the exhibition area dedicated to AI expanded by 60% from the previous edition, with 296 companies participating, up 48% year on year.

An AI-themed marketplace made its debut at the expo, featuring more than 70 companies selling over 500 products across eight categories. The marketplace generated more than 28 million yuan (around $4.1 million) in total sales, drawing strong consumer interest, Wang said.

AI also took center stage at the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, which put trade and investment at the heart of discussions, with enterprises playing a central role and practical applications serving as a key highlight.

Four AI-themed side events were held for the first time, focusing on applications for consumers, businesses, governments and international cooperation, said Yang Yanyan, secretary-general of the summit's secretariat.

AI applications, including a digital host and real-time multilingual translation, were deployed throughout the event, from preparations and proceedings to follow-up activities. The initiatives showcased new approaches and outcomes in China-ASEAN AI cooperation and sought to help ASEAN countries bridge the digital divide and share the benefits of AI development.

The 24th China-ASEAN Expo is preliminarily scheduled for September 17 to 21, 2027, with Singapore as the Country of Honor and Nanjing as China's "City of Charm," the expo's secretariat announced.