China-ASEAN Expo: Leaders encourage innovation during expo opening

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02:17

China and ASEAN countries have kicked off their 15th annual joint expo. Leaders on Wednesday hailed the theme of innovation, and exhibitors hope business opportunities will emerge from the next few days. Reporter Wu Guoxiu reports from China's southeastern city of Nanning.

Advanced technology, the name of a special venue at this year's China-ASEAN expo. At Wednesday's opening ceremony, Chinese Vice-Premier Han Zheng called for innovation while boosting trade relations.

HAN ZHENG CHINESE VICE PREMIER "China would like to push for the Belt and Road Technological Innovation Action Plan with ASEAN countries and build regional technology transfer and cooperation networks. It will promote technology transfer and high-tech personnel training. It aims to provide strong technological and intellectual support for regional development."

Cambodia is this year's guest of honor at the event. Prime Minister Hun Sen welcomes investment, and says technology sharing could be very beneficial for his country.

HUN SEN CAMBODIAN PRIME MINISTER "Our friends in China have made great achievements in technological innovation. Those will be shared with us at this expo, and will be a great bonus for both China and ASEAN."

With over 2700 businesses registered, products on display are very inclusive. A random Myanmar venue has 170 booths, with foods always ready for sampling or rather for distributing.

INGYIN KHINE MYANMAR EXHIBITOR "We've been doing business with China for 10 years, but we were doing border trade, this time we're looking for distributors in China with a good partner."

Construction projects and industrial parks are also on display to show what a broader concept of trade can include.

WU GUOXIU NANNING "The expo brings producers together with products and projects. It will see intensive business collaborations between China and South East Asian nations. Total visitors could surpass last years' number of 77 thousand. And in the end the expo is also a way to bring these neighboring peoples closer. Wu Guoxiu, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region."