The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo has officially opened its doors, bringing together over 3,400 companies from more than 70 countries and regions at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Guangxi. Exhibitors and buyers move through the halls, engaging in lively discussions and negotiations, as China and ASEAN forge ahead with their shared vision for the 3.0-era partnership, injecting fresh momentum into regional economic and trade collaboration.

This year marks a significant milestone, coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the inaugural year of the Action Plan for the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2026-2030), and a pivotal period for accelerating the implementation of the newly signed Protocol on Upgrading the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA) to version 3.0. Themed "Sharing 3.0 Opportunities, Creating a Better Life Together," this year's expo highlights the role of FTA development in driving high-quality regional economic growth, showcasing the latest achievements and breakthroughs in China-ASEAN trade and investment ties.

Since its inception in 2004, this premier event has witnessed the evolution of China-ASEAN relations from a dialogue partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership, chronicling the steady expansion and continuous upgrading of bilateral cooperation across multiple fronts.

The numbers tell a compelling story of deepening engagement. In 2025, trade between China and ASEAN surpassed the trillion-dollar mark for the first time, reaching $1.05 trillion. In the first seven months of 2026 alone, bilateral trade volume hit $744.41 billion, representing a year-on-year growth of 24.7%. Perhaps even more noteworthy is the shift in trade composition: intermediate goods now account for two-thirds of total bilateral trade, signaling a transition from simple commodity exchange to integrated industrial collaboration.

The signed FTA 3.0 upgrade protocol underpins this transformation. For the first time, it incorporates emerging areas such as the digital economy, green economy, and production-supply chain connectivity into the framework, moving cooperation beyond traditional tariff reductions toward deeper alignment of rules, regulations, and standards. At the expo, this evolution from transactional trade to industrial synergy and innovation-driven partnerships is tangible: the inaugural "AI Supermarket" brings together over 70 companies showcasing more than 500 consumer-focused AI products; a newly established ASEAN demand pavilion shifts the focus from what China can sell to what ASEAN countries actually seek; and a dedicated exhibit for the Pinglu Canal highlights the combined impact of infrastructure connectivity and trade platforms.

This refined approach to matching supply with demand reflects a more targeted and pragmatic collaboration between the two sides. The shift is equally evident in the choices made by ASEAN participants. Cambodia's Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and Malaysia's Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation are leading delegations of high-tech enterprises to present frontier technologies and innovative products. Vietnam's Trade Promotion Agency has organized local buyers and industrial park groups to connect with China's smart manufacturing, intelligent logistics, urban governance, and other advanced solutions. The ASEAN exhibition zone has also diversified from traditional sectors like agriculture and handicrafts to high-value-added industries including digital communications, green technology, and artificial intelligence, demonstrating the broadening scope and deepening sophistication of China-ASEAN economic cooperation.

Thirty-five years after China and ASEAN initiated their dialogue relationship, the partnership has reached a new threshold. With FTA 3.0 extending collaboration from "border measures" to "behind-the-border" frameworks, and with all eleven ASEAN member states convening together at this expo for the first time following the bloc's expansion, China and ASEAN are anchoring long-term cooperation expectations through institutional openness and cementing their partnership through industrial integration. Every ton of cargo shipped, every contract signed, and every merchant thriving along the cross-border supply chain feels the tangible benefits and shared prosperity of this enduring collaboration.