On the 14th, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, stated that China is willing to discuss opportunities, face challenges, and seek cooperation with all parties through the upcoming 20th China ASEAN Expo and China ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, in order to promote the construction of a closer China ASEAN community with a shared future. At the regular press conference on that day, a reporter asked: What are China's expectations for the 20th China ASEAN Expo and the China ASEAN Business and Investment Summit? She stated that currently, China ASEAN economic and trade cooperation is steadily upgrading. China has maintained ASEAN's largest trading partner status for 14 consecutive years, and the two sides have been each other's largest trading partner for 3 consecutive years. In 2022, the trade volume between China and ASEAN exceeded 970 billion US dollars, an increase of 11.2% year-on-year. As of July this year, the cumulative two-way investment between China and ASEAN countries has exceeded 380 billion US dollars. At the recent series of East Asian Cooperation Leaders' Meetings, Premier Li Qiang and leaders of ASEAN countries reached important consensus on comprehensively deepening China ASEAN cooperation and jointly building the "Five Homelands" of peace, tranquility, prosperity, beauty, and friendship. "The China ASEAN Expo is an important platform for deepening China ASEAN cooperation and promoting regional economic integration, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of its founding." Mao Ning said that the theme of the current East China Expo is "building a home together, destiny and future together - promoting high-quality development of the the Belt and Road and building an economic growth center". She expressed that China is willing to discuss opportunities, meet challenges, and collaborate with all parties through this grand event, further implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with high quality, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation between China and ASEAN, enhance regional connectivity, jointly build an open regional economy, and promote the construction of a closer China ASEAN community with a shared future. (New News Agency)