The 19th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEPO) & China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) will open on Friday in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

With the theme of sharing new opportunities under the RCEP and building version 3.0 of a China-ASEAN FTA, the event aims to consolidate high-level dialogues and promote multiple fields of cooperation to bring the China-ASEAN community closer for a shared future.

Six state leaders of ASEAN countries will deliver video massages at the expo's opening ceremony and discuss cooperation strategies, said Wu Zhengping, director of the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce, at a news briefing on Thursday.

During the event, which will run until Monday, more than 20 high-end forums and more than 80 economic and trade promotion activities will be organized online and offline to boost investment and trade.

There are 1,653 participating enterprises, among which are Fortune Global 500 and China Top 500 enterprises. The online CAEXPO platform also attracted some 2,000 enterprises to exhibit products.

Wu said the expo will set up ASEAN and RCEP boutique exhibition areas for first time to showcase featured products from different countries.

Another innovation is the Chinese central SOEs exhibition, which focuses on innovative achievements in high-end equipment manufacturing, infrastructure construction and international logistics.

To seize the new opportunities of RCEP, a number of RCEP-related activities will be held during the event, such as Japanese entrepreneurs' visits to Guangxi. So far, more than 30 Japan-based enterprises have signed up.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, prevention and control measures will be carried out strictly in all aspects of transportation, check-in, dining and participation in activities to provide a safe and convenient environment for attendees, Wu said.