20th China-ASEAN Expo holds overseas exhibition in Laos

VIENTIANE, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The overseas exhibition of the 20th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Export Fair, was held in Lao capital Vientiane from Monday to Wednesday.

The event has drawn 183 companies from China, Laos and Thailand to seek cooperation in electrical appliances, machinery, clean energy innovations and medical equipment, among others.

At the opening ceremony on Monday, Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong said that Chinese modernization benefits the people in China and other countries.

The event is an opportunity for Guangxi to promote its products to Laos, and Lao enterprises are welcome to participate in the CAEXPO, Jiang said.

Noting the expo's important role in cooperation on trade, investment and tourism, Lao Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Chansouk Sengphachanh said the event will serve as a platform to promote business cooperation, post-pandemic recovery and people-to-people exchange.

Laos' first participation in China-ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Expo dates back to 2004, when the event was held in Guangxi's capital Nanning. Annually, senior leaders of Laos lead a delegation, accompanied by producers of competitive products, to attend the expo.

Highlighting the importance of an inclusive China-ASEAN Expo, Wei Zhaohui, secretary-general of the CAEXPO Secretariat, pledged to deepen the exchange and cooperation between China, Laos and other ASEAN member countries, and to help Lao products better access major markets.