The China-ASEAN Expo has been a catalyst for the creation of a China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) free trade area, an official with the event's organizing committee said yesterday.
Gao Hucheng, vice-co-chair of the committee and also China's vice-minister of commerce, said at a press conference that the expo's four successful rounds had effectively transformed the construction of an FTA from paperwork consensus by state leaders to pragmatic moves.
China and ASEAN have already agreed to set up a free trade area by 2010.
source:China Daily