ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) hopes to cooperate with China on agriculture and new energy, said Cao Jianlin, China's Vice Minister of Science and Technology, at an interview in Beijing on June 25.

Most ASEAN countries are in urgent need of agricultural and energy technology, especially hybrid rice biofuels, said Cao.

China has mature technologies that the ASEAN countries need, he added at the interview organized by the China-ASEAN Expo secretariat.

A united laboratory has been jointly established, with China contributing $1 million. Outstanding scientists from ASEAN countries will come to China for short exchange.

The 12th China-ASEAN Expo will be held from Sept 18-21 in Xining, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.