BEIJING —The China–ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) is expanding cooperation between China and Việt Nam across a wide range of sectors, from traditional trade to artificial intelligence (AI), its Secretariat said on April 2.

Recently, the China–Việt Nam Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee held its 17th meeting in Hà Nội. Both sides agreed to expand substantive cooperation, enhance railway connectivity, strengthen collaboration in key areas such as agriculture, electricity, finance, critical minerals and technological innovation, and jointly safeguard the multilateral trade system.

According to the CAEXPO Secretariat, in recent years, leveraging the CAEXPO platform, numerous projects have been signed and implemented, including the cross-border tourism cooperation zone between Detian Falls (China) and Bản Giốc (Việt Nam), the Youyi Guan (China) – Hữu Nghị (Việt Nam) smart border gate, as well as wind power projects in several Vietnamese localities such as Kon Tum.

Some provinces and cities, including Hà Nội and HCM City, have showcased their products in the “Charming Cities” exhibition area at CAEXPO, further strengthening economic, trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries at the local level.

At the opening ceremony of the 22nd CAEXPO in September last year, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Văn Chính emphasised that CAEXPO has become a significant symbol of economic, trade and investment cooperation between ASEAN and China and affirmed that ASEAN countries, including Việt Nam, highly value China’s contributions to regional cooperation and shared prosperity.

CAEXPO serves as an important gateway for Vietnamese businesses entering the Chinese market. Over 22 editions of CAEXPO, Việt Nam has featured nearly 4,300 booths and around 2,200 enterprises. Numerous Vietnamese products, such as coffee, wood products and footwear, have penetrated the Chinese market through CAEXPO, achieving rapid transitions from exhibition to product display.

Việt Nam’s Trung Nguyên Group is leveraging the brand spillover effect of CAEXPO to expand its presence in China, with its first flagship store in Southwest China opening in Nanning last December.

A Vietnamese footwear distributor in China noted that CAEXPO effectively connects the Chinese and ASEAN markets, opening sales channels for products while helping enterprises better understand consumer preferences and market demand.

The CAEXPO Secretariat noted that in recent years, alongside traditional exhibitions, AI has emerged as a new theme in China–Việt Nam trade relations.

At the China–ASEAN Ministerial Roundtable on AI, held within the framework of the 22nd CAEXPO, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bùi Hoàng Phương affirmed that AI is not only a technology but also a critical part of infrastructure, and Việt Nam is ready to expand cooperation with all partners in areas such as AI talent training, scientific research and academic exchange.

Việt Nam’s Artificial Intelligence Law officially took effect in March 2026, providing legal assurances for the coordinated development of the digital economy. A series of AI application projects, such as the China–Việt Nam AI Application Cooperation Centre at the Hà Nội Exhibition Centre, have been implemented, transforming digital technology into a powerful driver of bilateral economic and trade development.

From basic products to AI, from market expansion to industrial integration, CAEXPO enables all parties to share development opportunities within the China–ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0.

According to the CAEXPO Secretariat, in April 2026, a delegation of enterprises will participate in the 35th Vietnam International Trade Fair with a dedicated exhibition area. During this period, the 23rd Global CAEXPO Roadshow (Vietnam stop) will be held to facilitate business connections between Chinese and Vietnamese enterprises. — VNA/VNS