High-value products join regional staples as 23rd China-ASEAN Expo opens in Nanning

The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo opened on Thursday in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, gathering many of the distinctive ASEAN products that traders are used to seeing at the event, alongside the debut of high value-added products.

More than 3,400 companies from over 70 countries and regions are attending, up 5.3 percent from the previous edition. This year's event runs from Sept 17 to 21.

Themed "CAFTA 3.0 Opportunities, Better Life," the expo covers a total exhibition area of about 170,000 square meters, showcasing the latest achievements in cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"A new highlight of the ASEAN exhibition area, summed up in one sentence, is that old friends have arrived along with new technologies. Durian, coffee, fragrant rice and other well-known distinctive ASEAN products are once again making a splendid appearance this year. Old friends will not be absent," said Wang Jicai, secretary-general of the China-ASEAN Expo Secretariat.

"At the same time, the exhibit structure is accelerating its extension toward high-value-added and high-tech fields. For example, Brunei has brought AI companies, while Cambodia's Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC) and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia have organized high-tech enterprise to participate in the exhibition. Traditional specialties plus cutting-edge technologies make the displayed content more diverse," Wang added.

Timor-Leste, which became ASEAN's 11th member in October 2025, made its debut as a co-organizer at the expo, marking the first time all 11 ASEAN countries have gathered in Nanning.

"This is my first time in Nanning, so I'm really excited to promote my product," said an exhibitor from Timor-Leste.

Also for the first time, the event features a new exhibition area that highlights demand from ASEAN countries and uses intelligent technology to match enterprises with the countries.

Meanwhile, the 23rd China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit also opened Thursday in Nanning.

China and ASEAN are working to accelerate the implementation of the CAFTA 3.0 Upgrade Protocol. Signed in October 2025, the protocol covers areas such as the digital economy and green development.

Economic ties between China and ASEAN have continued to deepen. Bilateral trade topped 1 trillion U.S. dollars for the first time in 2025, totaling 1.05 trillion dollars, up 7.4 percent year on year. In the first seven months of 2026, trade between the two sides reached 744.41 billion dollars, an increase of 24.7 percent year on year and accounting for 21.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.

China has remained ASEAN's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, while ASEAN has been China's largest trading partner for six successive years.

High-value products join regional staples as 23rd China-ASEAN Expo opens in Nanning

China has made full preparations for the upcoming autumn grain procurement as the summer procurement approaches its end, according to the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

For now, the country's total amount of wheat procurement has exceeded 100 million tons.

To protect grain farmers' interests, the government has promptly activated the minimum purchase price program for wheat. Sinograin has opened 164 purchasing sites across two major producing provinces of Henan and Anhui, offering to buy wheat at prices supported by the policy without any volume cap.

"The payment for my grain came through quickly today, and I feel much more at ease now that the minimum purchase price policy has been put into effect," said Hou Erwei, a local farmer.

As the autumn grain crop gradually ripens across the coutry, the autumn grain purchasing season is about to begin, expected to run from late September through the end of April next year.

The Autumn season accounts for approximately three-quarters of the country’s total annual grain purchases, making it the most significant grain procurement and storage period of the year.

This year, grain dryers and smart grain-handling equipment have been included into subsidy, helping ensure that the autumn harvest can be purchased, stored, and transported smoothly.

"At present, grain storage capacity, purchasing funds, personnel, equipment, and other resources are all in place. It is expected that grain purchases during this year's peak autumn harvest season will reach approximately 350 million tons. We will strengthen market monitoring and information dissemination, as well as make effective use of the drying and other services provided by post-harvest grain service centers to help farmers reduce losses and increase their incomes," said Luo Shouquan, director of Grain Reserves Department, National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

China ready for autumn grain procurement as summer purchase draws to close