Editor's Note: Before the start of the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), consuls from several ASEAN countries spoke with China Daily reporters Xu Xiao, Huang Feifei and Huang Zhaohua about the event's influence in boosting bilateral trade.

"Vietnam took part in every CAEXPO for six years," said Nguyen Anh Dung, Vietnam's consul-general in Nanning, adding that in the past Vietnam has had the highest number of participating enterprises.

This year, 107 enterprises will attend the fair, said To Ngoc Son, Vietnam's trade office commercial consul in Nanning.

The companies are mostly from the agricultural product processing industry. Several of them are furniture makers, noted Son.

He added that bilateral trade between China and Vietnam has grown rapidly, but investment needs a further boost.

CAFTA cannot not suddenly decrease tariffs to a very low level, or eliminate trade barriers in one day. Building a free trade area is a long-term goal, he said.

"The CAEXPO has provided more investment opportunities for China and the ASEAN members. The establishment of the free trade area will further boost trade and cooperation," said Keo Thoeun, Cambodia's consul in Nanning

In the past several years, the expo has contributed a lot to the economic growth of Cambodia by providing more business opportunities, he continued.

"Chinese investors are crucial to Cambodia, and now more than 1,000 Chinese companies are running businesses in our country," said Keo.

He noted that many Cambodian commodities have become known to the Chinese people as a result of the expo.

"At this year's expo, I will pay more attention to cooperation in agriculture, trade and investment," he said.

First time expo participant Thwin Htet Lin, Myanmar's consul in Nanning, was also optimistic. "I think the expo is only becoming better and better. More merchants are coming, and trade transactions are increasing year by year," he said.

Myanmar is the fifth ASEAN country to have its consulate-general in Guangxi, following Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos.

Bilateral trade between Myanmar and China during the 2006-2007 fiscal year was more than $1.72 billion. That number surpassed $2.90 billion from 2009-2010.

"Because of the expo, Myanmar strengthened trade cooperation with China and other ASEAN members," said Htet Lin.

During this expo, Myanmar will showcase its jade and wood. Htet Lin predicted the event would become even larger after the establishment of the CAFTA.

More and more enterprises are showing their interest in investing in Myanmar, he said.

Phonekham Inthaboualy, Laos' consul general in Nanning, added that the CAEXPO provided more opportunities for bilateral cooperation between China and Laos.

This year, some 60 Laos companies will participate in the expo. Inthaboualy hopes he can focus on the laws and regulations relating to the free trade area at the event.

"The China-ASEAN Expo is a more significant event after the operation of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area," said Kanjana Pongpanich, Thailand's commercial consul in Nanning.

Since the implementation of the CAFTA agreement on January 1, tariffs for many products have been waived.

Thailand's commodities that benefited most from the agreement include vehicles and auto parts, air conditioners, corn and other foods.

"I think CAEXPO is a good way for Thai people to gain knowledge about Guangxi," said Pongpanich.

(China Daily 10/19/2010 page12)