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

Leaders clap hands after cutting the ribbon during the opening ceremony of the 6th China-ASEAN Exposition (CAEXPO) in Nanning, capital of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Oct. 20, 2009. The 6th CAEXPO kicked off in Nanning on Tuesday.[Liu Weibing/Xinhua]

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."

Laos is the country of honor of this year's Expo. Its Prime Minister says the Expo is being held at a crucial time.

Bouasone Bouphavanh, Prime Minister of Laos, said, "ASEAN countries are actively promoting the building of an ASEAN community. In the meantime, China and the ASEAN have been well prepared for the establishment of the China-ASEAN free trade area by January, 2010, to further strengthen the strategic partnership between China and the ASEAN."

The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area will become one of the world's largest, covering a population of 1.9 billion and involving a combined GDP of six trillion US dollars. Ninety-eight percent of products traded between China and ASEAN will enjoy zero-tariff treatment.