The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has launched a new AI marketplace aimed at strengthening digital economy cooperation between China and ASEAN countries.
The expo, which runs from September 17 to 21, features a dedicated AI section with a main venue and a sub-venue, each focusing on different aspects of artificial intelligence, according to event organisers.
The main venue showcases technologies including large language models and AI chips, while the sub-venue features more than 400 products from 60 companies tailored to the ASEAN market.
The products include AI glasses, smart robots, and rehabilitation and nursing-care devices. Visitors and buyers can test the products on site and place orders directly.
Chinese companies, including Huawei, iFlytek and Unitree Robotics, are showcasing advances in embodied intelligence, large-model applications and urban governance.
Organisations from ASEAN countries, including Thailand and Indonesia, are also presenting their own AI technologies at the sub-venue.
The AI section’s sub-venue will remain open throughout the year after the expo closes, displaying Chinese AI consumer products and supporting their expansion into international markets.
“We are not chasing the most advanced technology or the most complete product lineup,” said Lu Xinning, vice chairperson of the Guangxi regional government. “What we are striving for is the best fit with ASEAN and the most solid on-the-ground results.”
The expo also features a new exhibition area showcasing projects and application needs from ASEAN countries in transportation, smart logistics, AI, urban management and industrial park development.
In addition, a 10,000-square-metre zone dedicated to “AI Plus Finance” has been added to the financial exhibition area.
The organisers say the AI-focused initiatives are designed to strengthen China-ASEAN digital economy cooperation as both sides work to accelerate implementation of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Protocol.
The protocol, signed in October 2025, covers areas including the digital economy and green development.
Economic ties between China and ASEAN have continued to expand. Bilateral trade exceeded $1 trillion for the first time in 2025, reaching $1.05 trillion, an increase of 7.4 percent year on year.
In the first seven months of 2026, trade between China and ASEAN reached $744.41 billion, up 24.7 percent year on year and accounting for 17.1 percent of China’s total foreign trade
China has remained ASEAN’s largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, while ASEAN has been China’s largest trading partner for six consecutive years.
Source: Xinhua News Agency