NANNING, Sept. 18-- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli said on Friday China will step up production capacity cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

While addressing the opening ceremony of the 12th China-ASEAN Expo in the southern Chinese city Nanning, Zhang said China is a leading manufacturing country, which boasts advantages in production capacity including equipment, technology, construction, capital and managerial experience.

ASEAN members are actively promoting industrialization and urbanization, and are in urgent need of equipment, technology and capital.

China is willing to cooperate with ASEAN members to increase production capacity in areas such as electricity, engineering machinery, building materials and communication. It is willing to jointly construct industrial parks to facilitate production and attract Chinese investment to the ASEAN, he said.

The two sides should improve financial cooperation and make good use of such financial platforms as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Silk Road Fund, in order to support infrastructure construction and production capacity cooperation, Zhang added.

Initiated in 2004, the expo serves as an important platform to promote bilateral trade and relations between China and the ASEAN.