Xi calls for enhanced regional trade

President calls for nation, ASEAN to boost speed of economic rebound

President Xi Jinping reiterated China's pledge to see the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and a key region in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation on Friday, as he called upon enhanced bilateral economic and trade cooperation to accelerate regional economic recovery.

In a speech delivered via video link at the opening of the 17th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, Xi highlighted the need for the two sides to sustain the smooth flow of trade, promote mutual investment, open up markets wider to each other, and foster deeply integrated industrial, supply and value chains.

The expo and summit are being held Friday through Monday in Nanning, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Over 1,500 businesses, including 332 foreign businesses, will also take part in an online expo that runs throughout the year.