Indonesia, co-organiser of China-ASEAN Expo, officially confirmed that Indonesia’s “City of Charm” entry in the 16th China-ASEAN Expo is the Indonesian Archipelago.
The “Cities of Charm” of the China-ASEAN Expo have so far been identified as follows: The 16th CAEXPO: Chengdu (China), Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), Kampot Province (Cambodia), Indonesian Isles, Champasak Province (Lao PDR), Selangor (Malaysia), Magway Region (Myanmar), Santos General City (Philippines), Singapore, Buri Ram Province (Thailand), An Giang Province (Vietnam).
This year’s “Cities of Charm” exhibition area will focus on the hotspots of China-ASEAN cooperation, highlight hotspot tourism information, investment policies and environment of participating cities, and comprehensively demonstrate multi-field cooperation opportunities among the eleven cities. Since the inclusion of “Cities of Charm” at the second China-ASEAN Expo, the relationship between China and ASEAN countries has further extended from the national level to the urban level. The friendly exchanges between cities and the economic and trade cooperation have been increasingly flourishing and fruitful.
Guangxi, the host region of China-ASEAN Expo, has expanded its "Cycle of Friends" in the international community with the support of “Cities of Charm”. Six ASEAN countries, namely Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia, have set up consulates in Nanning. The number of international friendship cities concluded between Guangxi and ASEAN countries has increased to 55, making it the province (autonomous regions, municipalities) with the largest number of friendship cities from ASEAN. Since China’s Qinzhou and Malaysia’s Kuantan were identified as the “Cities of Charm” and made the debut on behalf of their countries at the China-ASEAN Expo, they have become international friendship cities with consequent increases in exchanges, communication and economic and trade cooperation. The new mode of international cooperation they developed, known as “two parks in two countries”, has become a model for pragmatic cooperation between international friendship cities.
Under the impetus of the China-ASEAN Expo, the personnel exchanges between China and ASEAN countries have become increasingly close. The cities elected as “Cities of Charm” for the Expo are now preferred tourist destinations and more and more merchants are choosing to invest and develop there.
The 16th China-ASEAN Expo will be held in Nanning, China from September 21 to September 24. Eleven cities of China and ASEAN countries, including Chengdu, birthplace of the ancient Shu civilization; Bandar Seri Begawan, known as the Oriental Venice; the leisure resort of Kampot; the Indonesian archipelago, which is like a huge new moon; and Champasak, witness to the ancient Indian civilization... will make a collective debut, showcasing their unique charms and bringing out the best in each other. The story of cooperation and mutual benefit between China and ASEAN countries will continue to be told on the big stage of the China-AEAN Expo.
