Though far away from China's northeast, some enterprises from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) came from afar to exhibit their competitive products at the first Northeast Asia Investment and Trade Expo which opened Friday in northeast China's Jilin Province.

"Altogether five enterprises participated in the expo with 12 exhibition booths, exhibiting those traditional products like handicrafts and agricultural products," said Phung Van Canh, promotion manager of Vietnam National Trade Fair and Advertising Company under Vietnam Ministry of Trade, adding that Vietnamese enterprises also intend to enter China's northeast market as China-Vietnam trade relationship stepped forward.

According to Phung Van Canh, Vietnamese enterprises intend to seek more trade cooperation and investment opportunities in China in order to make good preparation for entering the World Trade Organization. With ever-increasing China-Vietnam trade, China's northeast will be the important destination for Vietnamese enterprises.

Due to the geographical advantage, ASEAN enterprises have a stronger interest in participating in the China-ASEAN Expo held in Nanning, capital of southwest Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. However, ASEAN enterprises participating in the Northeast trade Expo said that as a new market, China's northeast may offer new opportunities for them.

"New market means new business opportunities, and it is like an experiment for Philippine enterprises to enter China's northeast market," said Leonox D. Abella, vice president of promotions of Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc.

Philippine enterprises occupied 15 exhibition booths at the Northeast trade expo. Many visitors showed great interest in the furniture exhibited by Philippine Golden Cane Furniture Manufacture Corp. Some Chinese people even intended to act as an agent for the furniture company in China.

Meanwhile, the Fifth East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum was held simultaneously during the Northeast trade expo. ASEAN countries brought their respective tourism projects here in order to attract more tourists from China's northeast.

(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2005)