Two-way trade between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) increased enormously in the past two decades, from 7.9 billion USD in 1991 to 229.7 billion USD in 2010.

The China-ASEAN trade turnover in the first six months of this year reached 171.12 billion USD, up 25 percent over the same period last year.

Chinese Deputy Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng revealed these statistics at a press conference held on July 26 in the Chinese capital city of Beijing , which aimed to review key achievements made in 20 years after the establishment of ASEAN-China dialogue relations.

Gao said ASEAN-China dialogue relations and the kick-start of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA), the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) and the annual China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) were significant events for promoting bilateral trade relations and mutual cooperation between the two sides.

They also helped to increase investment and boost cooperation and exchange in all fields, as well as enhance the two sides’ influence in the region and the world.

Introducing the 8 th CAEXPO, which was scheduled for Nanning , China from October 21-26, Vice Chairman of Guangxi province Chen Yu said that the exhibition would focus on environmental protection.

According to Chen, ASEAN member countries have registered to display more than 1,407 pavilions at the exhibition, up 19.4 percent over the 7 th CAEXPO./.