The China International Import Expo (CIIE) slated for November in Shanghai will further tighten the bonds of friendship between China and ASEAN countries, and guide them in cooperating at a higher level on a new platform.

Almost all the 10 ASEAN countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia will participate in the first CIIE, according to the news from the expo.

ASEAN countries total the third largest volume of trade with China, which exceeded USD 500 billion and reached USD 514.8 billion in 2017, with a year-on-year increase of 13.8%, achieving a record high.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivered a keynote speech at the launching ceremony of celebration activities marking the 15th anniversary of the strategic partnership between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.

He pointed out that the development of China will bring new and greater opportunities to all countries in the world, including ASEAN.

China and ASEAN are in close proximity to each other, so ASEAN countries normally feel the development and changes of China in the first place. The expo will boost the economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN.

At present, there are 15 exhibition invitation service providers confirmed in the 10 ASEAN countries that are responsible for the affairs of organizing the enterprises of their respective countries to participate in the expo. Among them, there are government agencies as well as enterprises and industrial associations.

The expo has offered early bird tickets and other preferential policies for countries around the world. Before the window for the early bird tickets closed, 15 exhibition institutions of the ASEAN countries had booked booths for their enterprises.

Many representative firms from the ASEAN countries will participate in the expo, including Chia Tai Group, Bagus Group and Wilmar International.

The exhibits will be primarily in the exhibition areas for food and agricultural products as well as daily consumer products.

Except the above two display areas, enterprises from Malaysia and Cambodia will appear in the areas for high-end intelligent equipment as well as medical equipment & health care products respectively.

Ramon M. Lopez, Secretary of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry said that to host the expo illustrates that China is actively opening its market to the world and proves that China firmly supports free trade.

The expo will provide more opportunities for Filipino enterprises entering the Chinese market. It is also an important step to promote the friendship between the two countries, said Lopez.

Ir. Arlinda, CEO of Directorate General for National Export Development (DGNED), Ministry of Trade Republic of Indonesia views that the expo is the most important exhibition held by China this year, and the Indonesian government hopes that Indonesian enterprises will seize the opportunity to actively participate in the exhibition and increase Indonesia's exports to China.