NANNING, 17 September 2026 – Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, attended the 23rd China–ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), and led a series of high-level engagements on the opening day of the event in Nanning.
Dr. Kao delivered remarks at the official Opening Ceremony of the 23rd CAEXPO, reflecting on the signing of the ASEAN–China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 Upgrade Protocol at the 28th ASEAN–China Summit last October, which marked a new chapter in the ASEAN–China partnership. “As ASEAN and China enter the next phase of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, CAEXPO will continue to play an important role in translating the opportunities created by ACFTA 3.0 into stronger business partnerships, wider participation and new sources of growth,” said Dr. Kao.
Following the ceremony, Dr. Kao held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Zhou Tian, Vice Minister of Emergency Management of China, where he reiterated the ASEAN Secretariat’s commitment to working with China towards the shared goal of strengthening joint resilience to disasters, as envisioned in the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response. Dr. Kao subsequently met with H.E. Wei Tao, Governor of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. During the meeting, Dr. Kao expressed his appreciation to the Guangxi Government for its continued support and hospitality extended to the ASEAN Secretariat throughout the CAEXPO series.
Dr. Kao continued his engagements in Nanning by addressing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and China–ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) High-Level Dialogue on Collaborative Growth. In his statement, he emphasised the pivotal role of regional economic integration in enhancing market access, strengthening resilience, and deepening supply chain integration across East Asia. Highlighting the opportunities for joint innovation, Dr. Kao said: “China’s technological strengths and ASEAN’s growing innovation ecosystem create powerful complementarities for companies, start-ups, investors, and research institutions. Through ACFTA 3.0, we should encourage businesses and stakeholders to collaborate more closely to ensure that technological advancement contributes to greater productivity, competitiveness, and shared prosperity.”
Dr. Kao concluded his engagements with a tour of the CAEXPO pavilions. He also held a meet-and-greet with representatives from Chinese media outlets, during which he responded to questions on a wide a range of issues, including ASEAN–China relations; the challenges and prospects of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 Upgrade Protocol; artificial intelligence and its potential benefits; the Pinglu Canal; and expectations for the 23rd CAEXPO.
ASEAN’s participation in the CAEXPO, supported through the ASEAN–China Cooperation Fund (ACCF), is a reflection of the enduring partnership and growing trade, investment, and economic integration between ASEAN and China.