The 18th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) to be held in September in Nanning, capital of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, will showcase the distinctive foods, consumer goods and service products of countries along the Belt and Road, officials from the CAEXPO Secretariat said on March 3.

The CAEXPO Secretariat also noted that Pakistan will be invited as the special partner country of the 18th CAEXPO again, following last year's partnership.

The CAEXPO, an international economic and trade event jointly hosted by the ASEAN Secretariat as well as the economic and trade ministries of 10 ASEAN countries and China, has been devoting continuous efforts to promoting regional economic integration.

Apart from boosting cooperation between China and ASEAN, the CAEXPO is now also open to the rest of the world.

Special exhibition areas for countries alongside the B&R have been set up at the CAEXPO for years, attracting countries such as Japan, France, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan to showcase their wares.

The CAEXPO has also been putting on special economic and trade events designed to offer professional services which can be used by China and ASEAN to carry out economic and investment cooperation with countries from the rest the world.

Pakistani President Arif Alvi expressed his hope during a video speech at the opening ceremony of the 17th CAEXPO that the feasibility of forming a trade triangle among Pakistan, China and ASEAN could be further explored.