China, ASEAN boost lumber, wood products trade

China and ASEAN member states have seen increases in trade and cooperation in the lumber and wood products industry during an exposition held in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Thousands of enterprises and customers from China and Southeast Asian nations attended the ongoing China-ASEAN Forest & Wood Products Expo, scheduled from November 16 to 19 in Nanning, provincial capital of Guangxi.

About 1,500 booths have been set up at the exhibition to display and sell a range of wood products, including furniture, building materials, pulp paper, garden plants and flowers, machines made of wood and other wood products.

International trade forums, wood culture forums and exchange and communication meetings will also be held during the expo.

"Although this is the first time I have attended the expo, I have known China for a long time, as our company has taken part in many commodities fairs in Guangxi and Yunnan," Vietnamese exhibitor Nguyen Chau Wan said, adding that China has become an important market for her company in recent years.

Tsai Kuen-sheng, who runs a rosewood craft company in Vietnam, said Chinese customers favor rosewood furniture and the low circulation costs in the free trade area between China and the ASEAN have brought many benefits to his company.

"I hope to know more trade partners and secure more orders on the expo, as well as raise the prestige of our brand," Tsai said.

Statistics released by State Forestry Administration show that the output value of China's lumber and wood products industry in 2011 totaled $490 billion, and lumber and wood products trade in 2011 amounted to more than $120 billion.

China has become the world's largest producer and consumer of lumber and wood products. The lumber and wood products industry is a major cooperation field for both China and ASEAN nations.