MORE THAN 100 MALAYSIAN COMPANIES AT ONGOING CHINA-ASEAN EXPO IN NANNING

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- More than 100 local companies are
participating at the ongoing 7th China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning, Guangxi
province, China, thanks to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation
(Matrade).

The Malaysian delegation to the event, which took off today, is being led by
Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister, Jacob Dungau Sagan.

He will be joining leaders from China and other Asean countries at the opening
ceremony of CAEXPO and will be also meeting key Chinese officials during the
event, Matrade said in a statement Wednesday.

CAEXPO has been organised annually since 2004 with the objective of
promoting the building of the China-Asean Free Trade Area (FTA).

It is widely regarded as an effective platform to promote co-operation between
China and Asean in the fields of trade, investment and tourism.

Matrade said Malaysia's participation at this year's CAEXPO will include
displays of local products such as automotive parts, food and beverages,
furniture, health and wellness.

The event is expected to help promote local products and services in China and
other Asean countries, taking advantage of the implementation of China-Asean
FTA, the trade development agency added.

At last year's CAEXPO, Matrade organised the participation of 100 Malaysian
exhibitors where a total sales of US$64.87 million was recorded.

Bilateral trade between Malaysia and China has registered an average growth rate
of 28.7 per cent over the last 10 years.

Since 2009, China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner. Similarly, since
2008, Malaysia has become China's largest trading partner within Asean.

Last year, total trade between Malaysia and China was valued at US$36.34
billion. Exports to China increased by 12.2 per cent to US$19.10 billion from
US$18.98 billion in 2008.

For the first eight months of this year, total Malaysia-China trade reached
US$30.23 billion with Malaysia's exports amounting to US$16.58 billion.
--BERNAMA