A signboard of CAEXPO is on display to greet the upcoming 14th China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning city, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Sept 4, 2017. [Photo/IC]

Poland has confirmed it will attend the 16th China-ASEAN Expo as a special partner, according to an expo secretariat announcement on Friday.

It will be the first time a European country participates in the annual gathering hosted by China and 10 countries from the Association of southeast Asian Nations.

This year's event will be held from Sep 20-23 in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Tadeusz Koscinski, Economic Development Minister of Poland, will lead the Polish delegation at the expo.

According to the expo secretariat, the event will give Poland a platform to promote its national image to an international influence, along with an opportunity to combine its economic advantages with those of China and ASEAN countries.

Representing a good example of Sino-central and eastern Europe cooperation, China and Poland have strengthened economic and trade ties in recent years.

Poland is now China's largest trade partner in central and eastern Europe, while China is Poland's second-largest source of imports.

With this year marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Poland, Poland's attendance at the expo is expected to further promote Sino-central and eastern Europe cooperation, as well as the implementation of Belt and Road Initiative.

The kind of partnership that Poland has made with the expo was introduced in 2014 as a means of attracting participants beyond ASEAN countries.