【Opening of 1st CAEXPO】

Jointly initiated by China and ASEAN leaders, the 1st China-ASEAN Exposition opened in Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center at 9: 30 a. m. on Nov. 3, 2005. Madam Wu Yi, member of the Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC, Vice Premier of the State Council of the PRC, attended the opening ceremony. Deputy Director General of the Organizing Committee of CAEXPO, Mr Li Jinzao, Vice Chairman of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, presided over the opening ceremony with Ms.Yang Lan as master of ceremonies. The opening ceremony consisted of four parts, i.e. leaders from China and the ASEAN countries jointly pressed the electronic button to open the gate of friendship, to show the sprouting flower of friendship, then they poured the water collected from the Mother Rivers of China and the ASEAN countries together, symbolizing cooperation and entering a brand-new era of joint development. Madam Wu Yi, H.E. Mr. Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, H.E. Mr. Boungnang Vorachith, Premier of the Laos PDR, Lt-General Soe Win, Prime Minister of Myanmar, H.E. Mr. Phinij Jarusombut, Vice Prime Minister of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Pham Gia Khiem, Vice Prime Minister of Viet Nam and Secretary General of the ASEAN Secretariat, leaders of the competent trade and economic departments of China and the 10 ASEAN countries as well as Secretary General of the ASEAN Secretariat walked through the gate of friendship to the rostrum. Madam Wu Yi declared open the CAEXPO. Heads of the eleven countries and H.E. Mr. Ong Keng Yong, Secretary General of the ASEAN Secretariat poured the water collected from the Mother Rivers of their own countries into the crystal vessels before them, which showed that the cooperation with a long history between China and the ASEAN countries will continue to develop vigorously, thus opening the 1st COEXPO. After that, the state leaders pressed the button to start the “Clock of Era”, which marked the commencement of CAEXPO and the construction of CAFTA up to a new stage of development. H.E. Mr. Bo Xilai, Minister of Commerce of China, Lu Bing, Chairman of Guangxi Autonomous Region and Ong Keng Yong, Secretary General of ASEAN Secretariat delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. On the theme of “Friendship, Cooperation, Development and Prosperity”, the 1st CAEXPO was co-sponsored by the competent trade and economic departments of China and the 10 ASEAN countries as well as the ASEAN Secretariat and was organized by the government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. More than 100 distinguished guests above vice-ministerial level at home and abroad showed their attendance to the opening ceremony, including three Chinese state leaders, five state leaders of the ASEAN countries as well as leaders of the competent trade and economic departments of China and the 10 ASEAN countries together with their delegations. 1,505 enterprises from China, ASEAN and other countries including 19 enterprises of the Global 500 exhibited in the CAEXPO. About 18,000 domestic and overseas exhibitors and purchasers participated in the meetings and expo and 4000 among the purchasers, were from abroad. Exhibiting goods covered a wide range of over 200 categories of products of 11 industries, including medical and health, machinery and equipments, household appliances, information technology, automobiles and fittings, hardware and building materials, agricultural products, medical and chemical products, light industry, etc. The exhibition area covered 60,000 square meters and 32% of 2, 506 booths were for enterprises from the ASEAN and other countries or areas. Activities of the CAEXPO included five main contents, namely, goods trade, talks over investment cooperation, service trade and cooperation in other fields, business and investment forum and cultural exchanges. The EXPO aimed to display competitive products of different countries, build platform for goods trade, meanwhile publicize and promote investment environment of different countries, exchange business information, expand regional investment and work together to take in international capital.