TRADERS from Myanmar have been invited to participate in the Second China-ASEAN Expo 2005, which will be held in the city of Nanning, the capital of Guangxi Province in southern China, from October 19 to 22.

Mr Zhang Xiaoqin, the vice secretary general of the China-ASEAN Expo Secretariat, said at a promotion conference at Yangon’s Traders Hotel on June 16 that the event would feature 3500 exhibition booths, more than 3000 of which have already been reserved.

He therefore urged Myanmar traders to contact the secretariat as early as possible to reserve space, as they will all surely be filled soon.

The number of booths available this year marks an increase of 1000 over last year. The organisers will also provide 14 national pavilions and 10 commodities exchange booths free of charge, Mr Zhang said.

“Direct charter flights will also be arranged between Yangon and Nanning for participants from Myanmar” he said.

Traders who plan to participate can register for airline tickets at the Chinese Embassy in Yangon, he said.

Mr Zhang said the expo will help Myanmar traders by giving them direct access to markets in China, which has a population of about 1.3 billion people.

The secretariat has invited buyers from all 33 provinces in China – as well as from Macao, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea – to the event, he said.

“Trade will be further enhanced on July 1 when China reduces import taxes on 7000 commodities from ASEAN countries, which will create more opportunities for the establishment of a China-ASEAN Free Trade Area,” he added.