Philippine president to attend China-ASEAN Expo

MANILA - Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said Wednesday that he would embark on a one-day visit to China to attend the opening of the 10th China-ASEAN Expo.

In his speech at the 2013 Apolinario Mabini Awarding Ceremony held in Malacanang, the presidential palace, Aquino said that he will leave Manila early in the morning and will return later in the afternoon of Sept 3.

The Philippines will be a "country of honor" in the 10th CAEXPO to be held in Nanning, capital of China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, from Sept 3 to 6.

The CAEXPO, co-sponsored by China and the 10 ASEAN countries as well as the ASEAN Secretariat, is the only international trade fair which themes on the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) and aims at promoting reciprocal cooperation and common development of China and ASEAN.