ASEAN countries supported deepening Belt and Road cooperation with China at the 16th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), which was held from Sept 21 to 24 in Nanning ,Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. 

Sonexay Siphandone, deputy prime minister of Laos, is interviewed during the 16th CAEXPO in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo provided by Zhang Li for chinadaily.com.cn]

"The Belt and Road Initiative offers a critical opportunity for ASEAN countries to accelerate their economic and social development, and Laos hopes to deepen cooperation with China, especially in the mining industry, as well as hydropower and infrastructure construction," said Sonexay Siphandone, deputy prime minister of Laos, while attending the event.

U Myint Swe, vice president of Myanmar. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

According to Myanmar's Vice President U Myint Swe, Myanmar has played an active role in the implementation of the BRI and has benefited from the constant increase of bilateral trade cooperation.

In recent years, the joint efforts that the two countries have launched, such as the China-Myanmar economic corridor and the China-Myanmar border economic cooperation zone, have borne remarkable results.

"In the future, cooperation may expand to multiple fields, such as education, culture, finance, as well as technology, " added the vice president.

Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, special envoy of the Indonesian president and coordinating minister for maritime affairs. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

As the Country of Honor at this year's CAEXPO, Indonesia received great attention for its well-organized trade and investment promotion. "Since the Belt and Road Initiative was brought out in Indonesia in 2013, we have seen more and more Chinese investors, and our government now is creating a sound and fair business environment to attract more investment from China," said Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, special envoy of the Indonesian president and coordinating minister for maritime affairs.

In the envoy's view, Indonesia has grown more competitive in attracting foreign investment as companies can easily obtain licenses online and payment platforms like WeChat have also been established.