Photo：Courtesy of MOFCOM

The 14th China-Northeast Asia Expo is scheduled to be held in Changchun, capital city of Northeast China's Jilin Province, from August 23 to 27, the expo organizers said on Friday, noting that the event, which has already attracted 908 firms from home and abroad, is ready to display the latest achievements and opening-up opportunities in the region.

Officials said the expo will also serve as an important platform to help further boost intraregional trade and investment cooperation as well as inject strong momentum into regional development.

Under the theme "Building a Shared Future for Northeast Asia through Cooperation," the event will focus on modern equipment and new energy collaboration, digital lifestyles, and Northeast Asian products, boasting distinct exhibition halls to showcase the latest achievements and opening-up opportunities in China's economic and trade cooperation with Northeast Asian nations, Vice Minister of Commerce Li Fei, told a press conference held in Beijing on Friday.

Leaders from Northeast Asian countries, as well as leaders from countries outside the region, are gradually confirming their participation in the upcoming event. A total of 908 domestic and international enterprises have already confirmed their presence at the exhibition, said Li Guoqiang, vice governor of Jilin Province.

Among them, 188 companies come from nations in the Northeast Asia, Europe, the US, as well as countries along the Belt and Road Initiative. Additionally, 356 domestic companies from 26 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, such as Zhejiang and Guangdong, will also be participating in the event, Li Guoqiang said.

A total of 28 forums are scheduled, facilitating multi-level dialogues among participants. Among these forums, the 12th Northeast Asia Cooperation Summit will be held, fostering enhanced exchanges among Northeast Asian nations. Additionally, events like the 2023 (Jilin) China-Japan Economic Cooperation Conference and Russia Business Day are set to take place, further propelling concrete and deepened cooperation, added the official.

First launched in 2005, the expo has become a major platform for countries in Northeast Asia to build consensus and conduct economic and trade cooperation, with a total of 2,933 cooperation projects signed so far.

Decades on, 770,000 professional merchants from more than 180 countries and regions participated in the expo, with trade turnover so far reaching $9.1 billion, information unveiled on Friday showed.

Regarded as one of the world's most vibrant regions for development, Northeast Asia demonstrates leading capabilities in technological research and development, with each country's economy presenting unique advantages and strong complementarity.

In 2022, the total trade volume between China and the five Northeast Asian nations, namely Japan, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Russia and Mongolia amounted to $923.2 billion, up 3.8 percent year-on-year, Li Fei said.

Meanwhile, the critical economic and trade partnership between China and its Northeast Asian counterparts has further solidified, with a continuous rise in the proportion of machinery, electronics, high-tech products, and other commodities, optimizing the trade structure.

As of June this year, the cumulative two-way investment between China and the five Northeast Asian countries has exceeded $257 billion. Investment cooperation in traditional industries such as infrastructure, agriculture, and manufacturing has elevated to new levels, gradually expanding into emerging fields like the digital economy and green development, infusing the region with renewed energy, Li Fei said.

Going forward, China will step up efforts to enhance the quality of intraregional trade and investment cooperation. The matchmaking role of the China-Northeast Asia Expo will be fully leveraged to help Chinese localities attract more foreign investment, Li Fei added.

Holding of the event also comes as the nation strengthens its commitment of advancing reform and opening-up.

"With a commitment to openness and cooperation, we are confident in building more open platforms and carriers that will further contribute to the development of trade, investment, and regional economic growth. Through continued efforts, we look forward to bolstering China's position as a strong trading nation, attracting more foreign investment, and fostering mutually beneficial collaboration with our regional partners, including those in Northeast Asia," Li Fei said.

Global Times