The 9th China-ASEAN Expo kicked off on Friday in Nanning, the capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The event will run until September 25. This year's expo features a theme of cooperation in science and technology.

As a crucial platform for the China-ASEAN free trade area, the expo will continue to push economic interaction to a new level this year. And a business and investment summit will also be held at the expo.

Five subjects highlight this year's expo, including commodity trade, investment cooperation, advanced technology, service trade and "charming cities." The enterprise participants are very active, with the number reaching 5,710, 24 percent more than the stands prepared.

The China Nonferrous Metal Mining Company is a cooperation partner of the the expo. Luo Tao, the general manager of the company, spoke highly of the expo.

Luo said, "I think the China-ASEAN Expo will strengthen ties between China and the ASEAN countries. It serves as an important platform for Chinese enterprises to explore the ASEAN markets. It will both contribute to the development of ASEAN countries as well as Chinese enterprises."

China's Vice President Xi Jinping, Myanmar's President Thein Sein and other leaders of ASEAN countries attended the event.

(CNTV.cn September 21, 2012)