The 6th China-ASEAN Expo is under way in Nanning, Guangxi, Southern China.

Apple-FM is here to report on the event and the accompanying Investment summit. If we had time we would report on the International Folk festival too, but there are only so many hours in the day.

The Expo was established to strengthen trading ties between China and the other South-East Asia countries. After all China is a big market and it also needs to sell its products to countries abroad. We are not yet at the stage where everything in made in China, just pretty close. China has invested in countries in the region and benefited in deals to obtain natural resources badly needed by its economy, such as Oil and minerals.

But the ASEAN (Association of South East Asia Nations) countries also need to trade amongst each other for things such as Rice and other products.

The convention centre in Nanning has halls devoted to each country and to some industry sectors, such as agriculture and engineering machinery. There is a whole section of companies from Shenzhen, just across the border from Hong Kong, and one hall promotes Cities of Charm for tourists.

There is now doubt of the importance of these two events to the regions governments, as shown by the high power delegations sent here to promote each country.

This enabled us to talk with the Deputy Minister of Commerce for Thailand. He spoke of the forthcoming reduction of trade tariffs in the region, which will make this the biggest trading block in the world. Rather like the start of the EU, many years ago with EFTA. But it is unlikely that it will grow into an Asian version of the European Union. The minister looked forward to the growth in trade volumes that it is hoped will follow January 1st changes and described them as historic.

We in Hong Kong are used to the Trade fairs at the Wan Chai Exhibition Centre or at Asia World Expo, near the airport. But this expo has a far more international feel to it, with its stress on the bringing together of all the nations in the region.

The Chinese government has spent a lot on promoting and staging the Expo and planning for next year is already underway. Hopefully more businesses will see this as a gateway to selling across the region as the importance of the fair grows. That may result in the reduction in size of some of the grand national stands, to make way for more exhibitors. But then we would miss the Thai puppet show and other national promotions as each country tries to win the hearts of visitors.