“I am hopeful that this China-ASAEN Expo (CAEXPO) exhibition would continue to provide opportunities for various levels of the Malaysian business community to explore cooperation in the trade sector, which will be able to stimulate trade activities for faster economic recovery”, said Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob during his pre-recorded speech at the opening ceremony of the 19th CAEXPO on 16 September 2022, in Nanning City, Guangxi.
He also expressed his hope that China can join its ASEAN friends in taking steps to re-open up its borders in the near future, as this was important, not just to stimulate economic activities, but to also create an environment that could enhance the strategic partnership of ASEAN and China.
This year, Malaysia served as the Country of Honour of the CAEXPO again after its first time in 2011. The Malaysian official delegation was physically led by H.E. Raja Dato’ Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, Ambassador of Malaysia to China. Also invited to the opening ceremony were the Consul General Mr. Azlimi bin Zakaria and other officials from MITI, MIDA, MATRADE, Tourism Malaysia, and Education Malaysia that based in China.
Guest of Honour from Chinese side was Han Zheng, Vice Premier of the State Council and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
Speeches were also delivered via video by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh and ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi.
The four-day event lasted from 16 to 19 September 2022.