BEIJING: The 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) concluded with the signing of 155 projects on September 18 in Nanning, Guangxi, underscoring the growing role of artificial intelligence and cross-border industrial cooperation in the region.
The agreements included 94 industrial projects, 44 AI-focused initiatives, and 17 international economic and trade deals, according to organizers.
This year’s signing ceremony carried the theme “AI Taking Center Stage, Companies as Key Players”, with a focus on building an international hub for AI cooperation with ASEAN, while strengthening cross-regional and cross-border industrial and supply chains.
AI-Driven Cooperation
Organizers said the 44 AI initiatives span the foundational, technological, and application layers of artificial intelligence. These projects cover industries such as manufacturing, services, agriculture, culture, and tourism, and are expected to deepen China-ASEAN collaboration through digital innovation.
Trade Agreements Across ASEAN
The 17 international economic and trade deals involved six ASEAN member states: Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Indonesia. One highlight is the China-Laos AI Innovation Cooperation Center, which will oversee both construction and operation.
Other foreign-invested projects include ventures in intelligent production of specialty agricultural products, biofuels, and paper processing.
Mega Projects Exceeding 1 Billion Yuan
Of the agreements, 45 projects were each valued above 1 billion yuan, spanning sectors such as renewable energy, advanced equipment, metals processing, critical minerals, biomedicine, commercial space, low-altitude aviation, and textiles.
Among these were two projects worth over 10 billion yuan and three ranging between 5 billion and 10 billion yuan, highlighting CAEXPO’s ability to secure large-scale investments with long-term regional impact.
