Countdown to 3rd China-ASEAN Expo

2006-10-28 21:56:00 CRIENGLISH.com

There are now just two days to go before the 3rd China-ASEAN Expo opens in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. And CRI has arrived on the scene to cover the event. Our reporter Wei Xiangnan finds out about the preparations being undertaken for the expo and gets a closer look at the work volunteers are doing for the event.

Reporter:

These are volunteers with the 3rd China-ASEAN Expo saying "Welcome to Nanning" in five different southeast Asian languages. They are students from Guangxi University. Using these different languages, they have allowed participants in the China-ASEAN Expo to feel much more at ease. Myo Oo, a commerce official from Myanmar, speaks highly of contributions, like this, volunteers have been making to the China-ASEAN Expo.

"So I think it is very convenient to communicate with local people."

There are about 800 volunteers helping with the expo. But their work extends far beyond just serving as translators. They pick up guests from the airport and help them check in local hotels. As Zhang Lidan, one of the volunteers from Guangxi University said, although her role is small it is an important one.

"Ours may be very small role, but like a very tall building is made of very small bricks."

However trivial, everything is indispensable for the smooth operation of the event. Thanks to contributions from volunteers, preparations for the expo have been going well. As Myo Oo said, the expo is improving every year.

"I was also in the first ASEAN expo. This year the government is improving a lot. And more and more exhibitors are coming. And also from my country, the exhibitors, are increasing. This year it has 50 exhibitors and all together 144 personnel."

Not only Myanmar has enlarged its business delegation, so have other countries. The deputy secretary-general of the expo Wen Zhongliang says 60,000 exhibitioners from home and abroad will attend this year. Their products have already arrived at Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center, with arrangements and decorations for the exhibition hall already well underway.

Coupled with the 3rd China-ASEAN Expo, the Commemorative Summit Marking the 15th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations and the 3rd China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit will also be held in Nanning. CRI reporters will continue to cover these events and bring you more reports live from the city.

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