The Chinese government has sent additional emergency supplies to aid rescue and relief efforts in mudslide-hit Nepal, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.
According to Nepalese authorities, the devastating mudslide on August 26 has caused over 1,000 deaths in the country, with thousands more still missing.
On Sunday, Chinese relief supplies including tents, blankets, sleeping bags, hardtack and emergency kits, along with four rescue experts arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal to assist in disaster relief operations.
"Providing emergency assistance to affected areas in Nepal and carrying out international rescue cooperation are important political decisions made by China, reflecting its friendly ties with Nepal. China's second batch of disaster relief supplies for Nepal is expected to be shipped out starting Tuesday, including urgently needed relief materials in Nepal such as drones, DNA testing equipment and reagents, water purification equipment and lighting equipment. Chinese DNA identification experts will also travel to the front line to assist their Nepalese counterparts," Guo said in response to a media query about what further support China plans to provide.
"China will stand firmly with Nepal, working hand in hand to overcome the difficulties and demonstrating through concrete actions the traditional friendship between the two neighboring countries," he said.
China sends additional aid supplies to mudslide-hit Nepal: spokesman
The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo will be held in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, from September 17 to 21, featuring multiple innovative measures with a focus on trade, enterprises and applications, a Chinese official said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Lu Xinning, vice governor of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, briefed the media on the key highlights and innovative arrangements of this year's expo.
This year, Timor-Leste will make its debut as a co-organizer, marking the first time all 11 ASEAN countries have gathered together in Nanning following the group's expansion.
A future space pavilion and a sci-tech innovation and entrepreneurship pavilion will be set up for the first time at the expo, with an upgraded AI section showcasing cutting-edge AI technologies and applications from consumer, enterprise, government and international perspectives.
"AI glasses, smart watches, AI home robots, rehabilitation care robots and photovoltaic cleaning robots can all be seen and tried on site. We have set up an 'AI marketplace' for the first time, selecting 60 companies with products suitable for ASEAN enterprises, offering more than 400 products that can all be experienced on site and ordered directly. This year's expo is not only a major platform for economic and trade exchanges, but also an experience venue for cutting-edge technologies," said Lu.
This year's expo will feature an upgraded ASEAN exhibition zone covering around 20,000 square meters, with comprehensive improvements in exhibition product structure, scale of participating countries and industrial cooperation levels, showcasing new achievements of China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation, according to the expo secretariat.
To address exhibitors' biggest concerns about markets and orders, the expo has set up pavilions for ASEAN demands for the first time, showcasing the technological and application needs of ASEAN countries to help Chinese enterprises achieve precise connections.
The expo will also debut a model in which leading companies bring small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the event. Industry leaders will exhibit together with their upstream and downstream partners, helping SMEs expand their markets.
For ordinary visitors, this year's expo offers a richer product lineup and opportunities to experience high-tech products up close.
23rd China-ASEAN Expo to take place in September in Nanning with innovative features
