The China-ASEAN Expo will be held in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to a press briefing held by the State Council Information Office Wednesday.

The Expo, to be held annually in Nanning, is proposed by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Oct. 8 in Bali, Indonesia, during the Seventh China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit.

An Min, vice-minister of the Ministry of Commerce, said the Expo would be an international and inclusive event encompassing trade in goods and services, investment cooperation, cultural exchanges and specialized forums.

He said the Expo, based on the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between China and ASEAN, will enhance the economic and trade cooperation between China and the ASEAN member countries.

Lu Bing, acting chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional government, said Guangxi had a huge geographic advantage.

"It is located in the center of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, supported by the vast hinterland of China and faced with the ASEAN market and it is also the only region in China enjoying both a land and sea connection with ASEAN."

"The Expo will give equal importance to imports and exports and dedicate itself to trade liberalization, which will facilitate ASEAN exports to China and held ASEAN goods get access to the Chinese huge market."

Abdul Hamid Abdul Jalil, Brunei ambassador to China, said ASEAN leaders expressed their willingness to attend the Expo after Premier Wen announced the proposal.

Guangxi, sharing a long borderline with ASEAN member countries, has vast potential for trade with ASEAN nations, said the ambassador.

The Nanning International Folk Song Festival will also be held during the Expo and the festival will hold an evening of folk songs in ASEAN member countries.

Beginning from 2004, the Expo will be held in Nanning in November each year.

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