The 6th China-ASEAN Expo has opened in Nanning, the capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Vice Premier Li Keqiang, ASEAN leaders, and representatives of business from the ten ASEAN countries attended this morning's opening ceremony. Six years on, the Expo has become an important platform to strengthening regional cooperation.

An important gathering in a challenging time. Facing the serious challenges of the global financial crisis has created a closer working relationship between China and ASEAN countries.

And they see the Expo as an ideal mechanism to coordinate and cooperate.

ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said, "The Expo provides us good opportunity to strengthen cooperation."

Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Demin said, "The trade and economic cooperation between China and the ASEAN have been growing robustly. Joining hands together, we have set up the platform of China-ASEAN Expo, to bring the benefits of the facilitation of trade and investment to enterprises and people in the region."

(CCTV.com October 20, 2009)