China-ASEAN Expo is a shining brand of China-ASEAN cooperation: FM

(ECNS) -- The China-ASEAN Expo is a shining brand of China-ASEAN cooperation, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Tuesday.

Guo made the remarks when asked about the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo, which concluded on Monday with fruitful outcomes.

Guo said that over the past 23 years, the Expo witnessed China-ASEAN cooperation leaping through the "Golden Decade" to the "Diamond Decade" and the upgrade to the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 (CAFTA 3.0).

This year, for the very first time, the Expo designated an area tailored to ASEAN countries' demand and released an ASEAN countries' demand list aimed at precision matchmaking between what ASEAN needs and what China can provide.

According to the spokesperson, the Expo also designated a Pinglu Canal exhibition area. The Canal's opening to navigation will significantly reduce the maritime shipping distance from Southwest China to ASEAN countries, opening up a new route for bilateral trade, he said. "China is ready to work with ASEAN countries to implement CAFTA 3.0 and build an even closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future."

(By Gong Weiwei)