Economy

Unlocking ASEAN’s Potential: How the China-ASEAN Expo Forges Economic Bridges and Cultural Bonds

CAEXPO strengthens China-ASEAN ties, says economist. It boosts trust, focuses on tech, & fosters cultural understanding.

byAndres Castro

September 20, 2025, 1:00 AM

A colorful, artistic sculpture of a peacock with an expansive fan of feathers on display in front of a building in Nanning, China

The colorful peacock logo of the China-ASEAN Expo is installed in front of a hotel in Nanning, China, in October 2011. By MDL.

Executive Summary

The 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) is described as an indispensable catalyst for strengthening economic ties and fostering regional integration between China and ASEAN.

CAEXPO serves as a crucial platform for economic collaboration, showcasing mutual benefits, and is anticipated to delve into emerging sectors like artificial intelligence and the blue economy.

Beyond trade, the expo also plays a significant role in promoting flourishing people-to-people connections and fostering cross-cultural understanding across the region.

The Story So Far

The China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) is a well-established annual event, currently in its 22nd edition, specifically designed to strengthen economic ties, foster regional integration, and build lasting trust between China and the ASEAN nations. This expo serves as a crucial platform not only for showcasing mutual economic benefits and exploring emerging sectors like AI and the blue economy but also for significantly enhancing people-to-people connections and cultural understanding across the region.

Why This Matters

The 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) is poised to significantly deepen economic integration and foster trust between China and ASEAN, serving as a crucial platform for collaboration and regional vitality. Its focus on emerging sectors like AI and the blue economy is expected to create jobs and enhance access to advanced technologies, while also accelerating people-to-people connections and cultural understanding across the region.

Who Thinks What?

Vietnamese economist Bui Lien Thao believes the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) is an indispensable catalyst for strengthening economic ties, fostering regional integration, and showcasing mutual benefits among participating nations, particularly through its focus on emerging sectors like AI and the blue economy.

Bui Lien Thao also emphasizes that CAEXPO significantly promotes people-to-people connections, leading to flourishing cultural affinity and understanding by bridging diverse traditions and offering immersive cross-cultural experiences.

Vietnamese economist Bui Lien Thao highlighted the pivotal role of the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in strengthening economic ties and fostering regional integration between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Speaking on Friday from Nanning, the capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where the expo is underway from September 17 to 21, Thao described CAEXPO as an indispensable catalyst for economic vitality and improved well-being across the region.

Regional Economic Integration

Bui Lien Thao, a specialist at the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, emphasized that CAEXPO has become a crucial platform for economic collaboration. She noted that the expo serves to build lasting trust by effectively showcasing mutual benefits among participating nations.

This year’s expo is anticipated to delve into emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence and the blue economy. These explorations are expected to directly benefit communities through job creation and by providing affordable access to advanced technologies.

Beyond Trade: People-to-People Ties

Beyond its focus on trade and economic development, Thao also stressed the growing importance of people-to-people connections. She characterized these ties as flourishing at an “unprecedented pace,” thereby laying a solid foundation for deeper cultural affinity and understanding across the entire region.

The economist further observed that the expo plays a significant role in bridging diverse traditions. It achieves this by offering immersive experiences that engage thousands of participants and visitors, fostering greater cross-cultural interaction.

Key Takeaways

The 22nd China-ASEAN Expo continues to serve as a critical mechanism for deepening economic integration and fostering trust between China and ASEAN. Its focus on innovative sectors and people-to-people exchanges underscores a comprehensive approach to regional development and mutual prosperity.