According to the Foreign Ministry, this year’s event will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative and the 20th anniversary of China’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.

“China has been the largest trading partner of Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) for 14 consecutive years and both sides have been each other’s largest trading partners for three consecutive years,” spokeswoman Mao Ning said.

According to the spokeswoman, the China-Asean Expo is a key platform for deepening bilateral cooperation and promoting regional economic integration.

This year’s edition is themed “Working together for a harmonious home and shared future: promoting high-quality development of the Belt and Road and building an epicenter of growth.”

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