The Special Guest Country mechanism was launched at the 11th CAEXPO.

The CAEXPO Secretariat will, on behalf of the CAEXPO Co-organizer, invite one of the RCEP AFP members (ASEAN'S Free Trade Agreement Partner)(excluding China) to be the Special Guest Country of the year by taking full consideration to their wills and conditions for participation. Facing the 10+6, open for RCEP, the CAEXPO strives to help China and ASEAN as a whole strengthen their exchanges with other economies and forge more business opportunities.

Special Guest Country for the 11th CAEXPO: Australia

Special Guest Country for the 12th CAEXPO: Republic of Korea (ROK)