Li Yongjiang, general secretary and vice-president of the China Convention & Exhibition Society, said on May 28 during an interview that in the last eight years the China-Northeast Asia Expo has improved each time, achieving more and more. The success is thanks largely to the State’s support, the Jilin government and the expo secretariat’s philosophy of constant innovation and exploration. Li said, different from other expos, the expo has dual missions as it is located in the political and economic hub of Northeast Asia. On the one hand, it should accelerate economic cooperation between China and Northeast Asia. On the other hand, it will be a bridge that connects China and Northeast Asia. President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia this year has strengthened the political and economic communication and exchange between China and Russia, which also shows the significance of Northeast Asia to China.

Objectively, the political environment is complicated in Northeast Asia, so the expo will play a significant role in overcoming political differences and maximizing cooperation potential between Northeast Asian countries, including cooperation in the manufacturing industry and service industry between China, Japan and Korea. The central government has put forward a strategic plan for the revitalization of the old industrial bases in Northeast China for 10 years. During the period, those industrial bases have transformed from a resource consumption industry to industries with high added value. During the transformation, the expo will carry the responsibility of pushing industrial transformation and upgrading, as well serving as a platform of communication and exchange.

Li also mentioned the renaming of the expo from the China Jilin-Northeast Asia Expo to China-Northeast Asia Expo has upgraded the event to the national level, and will bring forward higher standards. The ninth expo will stand from a higher level to realize the State’s strategic intent. Relying on the geographical location of Northeast China and the solid trade relations with its neighboring countries, the expo this year will aim to achieve deep communication, thorough cooperation and a win-win situation in terms of politics, economics, trade, culture, tourism, education and medical treatment.