More than 3,200 companies from 60 countries are expected to take part in the upcoming China–ASEAN Expo, a senior official from the Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday.

Deng Bo, deputy director of the Trade Development Bureau under the ministry, told a news briefing on Tuesday that the event carries special weight this year as it marks the 15th anniversary of the China–ASEAN Free Trade Area and coincides with the imminent signing of the CAFTA Version 3.0 protocol.

The expo will run from Sept 17 to 21 in Nanning, capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Covering about 160,000 square meters, this year's expo will introduce several new exhibition zones at its main venue, including an Artificial Intelligence Pavilion, a new quality productivity pavilion, and areas devoted to the blue economy and high-quality foreign trade products.

The quality of China's exhibition areas has seen a notable upgrade, with a sharp increase in high-tech exhibits—over 50 percent of which are AI or AI-enabled products.

Foreign participation, now accounting for about 30 percent of total floor space, has also improved. ASEAN countries are shifting their exhibits from traditional industries toward high-tech sectors, including manufacturing, energy, shipping, smart agriculture, and retail.

The Belt and Road International Exhibition Area will host 33 countries, among them Pakistan, South Korea, and New Zealand.