The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region will accelerate its opening-up process by hosting the China-ASEAN Expo, said deputy chairman of the autonomous region government Li Jinzao.

ASEAN stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"Hosting the expo will have a long-term positive impact on Guangxi, a traditionally developing region where many ethnic groups gather," he said.

Li said the urban construction level of Nanning, the host city in Guangxi, has leaped at least 10 years forward due to preparations for the exposition.

The China-ASEAN Expo will hold its first session between November 3-6 in Guangxi's capital city Nanning. It will be held annually in the future.

The expo was proposed by Premier Wen Jiabao in October last year at the Seventh China-ASEAN leaders' meeting. His proposal was well received by leaders of ASEAN member countries and was included in the chairperson's statement.

Wen also proposed holding a China-ASEAN Business & Investment Summit in China. The first summit will be held in November in Nanning along with China-ASEAN Expo.

"The 14 cities of Guangxi will understand ASEAN countries better through participation in the exposition," Li said.

The experience of handling business relations with foreign companies during the exposition will help local government and entrepreneurs prepare to invest overseas or introduce foreign investment.

Meanwhile infrastructure construction is speeding up, he said. One example is the Nanning Intentional Convention and Exhibition Center, where the China-ASEAN Expo is to be held.

With an investment of 650 million yuan (US$79 million), construction of the 112,000-square-metre first phase of the center was completed last year.

"Without requirements from the annual exposition, we would not build such a modern and international exhibition center," he said.

More importantly, Li said, is the enhancement of local residents' quality of life by hosting the exposition.

"There is less and less uncivilized behavior among residents now. People are aware that they are the host of guests from 10 ASEAN countries and regions outside Nanning," he said.

Although preparations for the China-ASEAN Expo are under way smoothly, Li said lack of professionals is the biggest problem the organizers face.

As the host city, Nanning does not have enough experience in hosting large-scale international expositions except for the Nanning International Folk Song Art Festival.

"We have brought senior professionals in the exposition field to Guangxi to solve the problem," Li said.

For example, the Ministry of Commerce sent six experienced experts to Nanning.

Leading persons in sponsoring the widely recognized Guangzhou Import and Export Commodities Fair were also invited to aid the exposition.

Two experts will be sent by the organizer of the fair every month from July to September to Nanning to offer expertise.

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council also sent professionals to Nanning to aid in arranging the exposition.

"We also sent our staff to Hong Kong, a region famous for its conventions and expositions, to learn on site," he said.

"We are more confident of the successful hosting of the China-ASEAN Expo after absorbing experiences from other regions," the official said.

(China Daily July 5, 2004)