From September 17 to 18, the 2026 China–ASEAN Economic and Trade Cooperation Dialogue was held in Nanning under the theme “Digital Intelligence Empowerment and Collaborative Progress: Building a High-Quality China–ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0.” The event was co-hosted by Guangxi University, the Secretariat of the China–ASEAN Expo, the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) of Malaysia, and the China Association for International Economic Cooperation (CAIEC). It was organized by Guangxi university’s China-ASEAN School of Economics and the China–ASEAN Research Institute. Xu Huarui, Secretary of the CPC Guangxi University Committee, attended and delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, while Ning Xuchu, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Guangxi University Committee, presided over the event.

Representatives from the political, business and academic circles of ASEAN countries and China engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions centered on the forum's theme, through formats such as the Distinguished Lecturers Forum, high-level dialogues, parallel sub-forums, and youth exchange camps, addressing multiple perspectives including digital-intelligent financial cooperation, AI-driven industrial synergy, and the upgrading and expansion of two-way trade.

At the event, the China–ASEAN Expo Blue Book, China–ASEAN Economic and Trade Cooperation Outlook Report (2026–2027), was officially released. The Blue Book was jointly compiled by the Secretariat of the China–ASEAN Expo and Guangxi University’s China–ASEAN School of Economics. In parallel, activities including the “Lancang–Mekong Fellowship” exchange camp and the ASEAN Youth Face-to-Face exchange camp were held, providing communication platforms for Chinese and foreign youth. Participating guests also visited the CAEXPO exhibition zone in person, gaining an on-site understanding of the practical achievements of regional economic and trade cooperation.

The event brought together more than 200 representatives from international organizations including the ASEAN Secretariat, Chinese and foreign government agencies, university think tanks, and business enterprises, who jointly discussed the new prospects for China–ASEAN economic and trade cooperation. The participants agreed that Guangxi should give full play to its role as a frontline window for opening up and cooperation with ASEAN, make good use of the “Nanning Channel,” continue to empower regional industrial and supply chainswith new quality productive forces, promote deeper integration, and encourage universities, think tanks and enterprises to establish normalized cooperation mechanisms—thereby providing intellectual support for the implementation of the Free Trade Area 3.0 and contributing to the building of an even closer China–ASEAN community with a shared future.

It is noted that this activity has been held for three consecutive years, building a diversified and integrated platform for government–business–academia dialogue, academic research, and youth exchanges, and establishing a distinctive cross-border cooperation model of “exhibition as the stage, think tanks as the enabler, and talent as the support.”