Expo for combined market of 1.8 billion

Nearly 1,500 booths will display the latest projects and products when the ninth China-ASEAN Expo gets under way in Nanning on Sept 21, a marked increase in size over previous years, organizers said.

For the first time the expo will include industrial parks from Southeast Asia showcased collectively in China as an investment event.

In addition to delegations from industrial parks, local Chinese governments, business associations and financing institutions will also take part in the event.

Also for the first time at the expo, a specialized coffee exhibition will employ 50 booths to promote the industry in Southeast Asia.

The expo has long been attractive to coffee producers from Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. This year's coffee exhibition will be not only display different kinds of coffee, but also show the planting, processing techniques and the coffee culture in those nations.

Traditional coffee, instant coffee, coffee-making equipment and renowned coffee shops will all be highlighted at the exhibition.

As the theme country of this year, Myanmar will send a high-profile delegation to the expo led by President U Thein Sein.

Myanmar will also promote Yadanabon as the "City of Charm". The city will showcase many of its high-tech projects jointly developed with China, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia.

Burmese jade, woodware and gardening products will also be shown at the expo.

Temporary charter flights will link China and the 10 ASEAN members during the event.

Investment summit

Senior government officials, entrepreneurs and scholars from China and ASEAN are expected for a business and investment summit that opens the same day as the expo.

Regional interconnection will be a focus of the summit with talks about transportation systems and opening up of markets and policies along with industry matchmaking.

At the last year's summit, Premier Wen Jiabao announced plans to build a China-ASEAN trading center in Nanning and the center is now ready.

A financing exhibition is planned at the summit for the first time with banks, stock brokerages, foundations and insurance companies joining representatives from companies in China and Southeast Asia.

A mining forum and exhibition, considered part of the summit, was held in May resulting in 13.6 billion yuan ($2.2 billion) in signed contracts.

Art festival

A number of art events will be held alongside the expo and summit.

An annual folk song competition started selections in as early as May. This year, the finals will use the format of the popular European talent show True Talent with judges sitting with their backs to the contender to pick singers with the best voice and technique regardless of appearance.

The selection process was held in six regions nationwide with the competition promoted using various media.

The round winners will have the chance to show their talent at the opening gala of the 2012 Nanning International Folk Song Arts festival on the evening of Sept 21.

The gala will feature a main stage at the center of the stadium surrounded by smaller, moving stages. There will also be dazzling fireworks, a diamond-shaped LED display and mega-scale projection to "create a fascinating wonderland for the audience", said organizers.

Folk songs, rock 'n' roll and rap will all be presented along with more than 3,000 dancers. Some 100 foreign artists from 13 art troupes have been invited to give performances.

There will also be stages on the university campus and in residential communities so locals can enjoy the passion of the festival.