The ports of entry in Nanning City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, are experiencing an influx of exhibitors participating in the 21st China-ASEAN Expo.
The event is scheduled to be held from Tuesday to Saturday in Nanning, an important gateway connecting China and ASEAN countries.
Exhibitors from different countries have increasingly gravitated toward the Chinese market, bolstered by the implementation of China's customs clearance facilitation policy in recent years.
"I'm from Malaysia. I am here to participate in the ASEAN expo. With this visa-free policy, we will take more trips to China to see what the market is like here," said an visitor from Malaysia, the country of honor for this year's expo.
With favorable policies and measures in place to felicitate customs clearance, China has been welcoming an increasing number of foreign arrivals, especially during international events like the China-ASEAN Expo.
According to data from the local border checkpoint, ports of entry in Nanning have recently processed an average of approximately 2,100 inbound and outbound travelers each day. It is expected that the total number of passengers before, during, and after the China-ASEAN Expo will surpass 20,000.
The customs authority has facilitated the clearance and entrance with various measures.
"As exhibitors and visitors are entering for the expo, we have established designated areas for command and dispatch, service as well as data analysis to ensure safe and efficient customs clearance," said Wei Zhou, instructor of Nanning General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection.
Nanning's ports of entry see influx of exhibitors for China-ASEAN Expo
Nanning's ports of entry see influx of exhibitors for China-ASEAN Expo
As China accelerates its push toward agricultural modernization, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and breeding innovation will be key to building "new quality productive forces" in farming and animal husbandry, said Liu Yonghao, chairman of New Hope Group, a leading animal feed producer and one of the largest private companies in China.
Liu, also a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), highlighted the agricultural sector's remarkable progress while outlining the path forward for sustainable growth in an interview with the China Media Group (CMG).
"Over the past five years, agricultural science and technology has advanced rapidly and agricultural mechanization has reached a historic high. The overall mechanization rate for crop cultivation, planting and harvesting has exceeded 73 percent. Promoting agricultural modernization and fostering new quality productive forces in agriculture and animal husbandry is an important foundation for building a strong agricultural country. The 2026 No. 1 Central Document clearly calls for integrating artificial intelligence with agricultural development. Breakthroughs in AI technologies have opened up broader development prospects for agriculture," he said.
When asked about key areas for developing "new quality productive forces" in agriculture, Liu identified three priorities.
"In the new agricultural landscape, sustainable growth for enterprises depends on new quality productive forces, mainly in three areas. First, Breeding innovation. By improving the genes of pigs, cattle, chickens and ducks, we enhance product quality. Working with Huazhong Agricultural University, we use porcine liquid chip technology to develop high-quality pig breeds. Second, Smart management. AI helps make farming and planting more scientific and efficient, increasing output while reducing costs. Third, Tech-enabled marketing. We integrate online and offline channels and develop new products. For example, the tree tomato from Yunnan has been made into a popular plant-based hotpot base thanks to its bright color, unique taste and rich nutrition," he added.
New Hope chairman highlights AI-driven transformation in China's agricultural sector
