Statistics show that from January to May, the trade volume between China and ASEAN hit $242.4 billion, a 1 percent growth, year-on-year. Meantime, China's direct investment to ASEAN has seen a 50.7 percent growth, year-on-year. In reverse, ASEAN's investment to China has increased by 13 percent, year-on-year.

Wang Lei, secretary-general of the China-ASEAN Expo Secretariat, said China is pulling all-out efforts to speed up preparations for the expo. So far, seven ASEAN countries has confirmed expo participation in their exclusive halls for the exhibition.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN free trade area. The 17th China-ASEAN Expo is expected to push bilateral cooperation to a new level by strengthening united responses to the epidemic and deepen cooperation to achieve post-virus recovery.