The 17th China-ASEAN Expo will host more than 160 investment and trade promotion activities online and offline starting on Friday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 17th China-ASEAN Expo will hold more than 160 investment and trade promotion activities online and offline to facilitate cooperation between China and ASEAN countries starting on Friday.

Gao Feng, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, made the remarks at a news conference on Thursday, adding that this expo has been seen as a milestone event to deepen the economic and trade relationship between China and ASEAN countries. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the free trade area.

With strict measures against COVID-19, the 17th China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit will be held from Friday to Sunday in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

With the newly signed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the expo is expected to build a closer China-ASEAN community.

Covering 104,000 square meters, the exhibition area is designed with 5,400 booths, of which 4,600 will be used by Chinese enterprises whose products highlight new technologies such as smart energy, drones, intelligent robots and electronic equipment based on 5G technology.

Of the 803 foreign booths, 574 are ASEAN exhibitors , the rest will be used by exhibitors from places involved with the Belt and Road Initiative.

More than 1,580 companies and institutes are expected to present exhibits on the expo's web platform, including 1,251 domestic enterprises and 332 foreign enterprises.

Initiated in 2004, the expo is an important platform to promote trade and bilateral relations between China and ASEAN countries.