The 23rd China–ASEAN Exhibition opened on September 17, 2026 in Nanning and will run until September 21. The exhibition area is about 170,000 square meters, the number of participants exceeded 3,400 companies from more than 70 countries and regions.
The central theme is the possibilities of the CAFTA 3.0 free Trade Agreement. The protocol on renewal was signed in October 2025 and applies to the digital economy, green development and related industries. The parties are now speeding up its implementation.
For the first time, Timor-Leste is participating as a full member of ASEAN and a co—organizer of the exhibition. Thus, all 11 states of the bloc are represented in Nanning after the expansion of the organization.
The business program includes over 50 events on trade and investment assistance, regional economic integration, and cross—border cooperation in industry and supply chains. A separate pavilion is dedicated to artificial intelligence: it features more than 500 products. The new exhibition area focuses on the demands of the ASEAN countries in transport, smart logistics, urban management and the development of industrial parks. Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand sent delegations from technology departments and relevant institutes.
The trade figures confirm the scale of integration. In 2025, the bilateral trade turnover between China and ASEAN surpassed the $1 trillion mark for the first time, amounting to $1.05 trillion, an increase of 7.4% year—on-year. In January–July 2026, the figure reached $744.41 billion, adding 24.7% and accounting for 21.8% of China's total foreign trade turnover. China has remained ASEAN's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years; ASEAN, in turn, has held the status of China's main trading partner for six years.
For foreign trade participants building chains across Southeast Asia, the acceleration of CAFTA 3.0 means practical changes in the tariff regime and rules of origin. The protocol opens up new opportunities for transit through ASEAN countries, and the growing demand for smart logistics and industrial park infrastructure is creating specific niches for equipment and technology suppliers.
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