Northeast Asia trade in focus at Jilin expo

China will leverage the China-Northeast Asia Expo platform to advance policy coordination, forge closer economic links and strengthen cooperation with Northeast Asia, senior government officials said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the expo's 15th edition, which runs from Wednesday to Sunday, in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin province, they said China's unwavering push for high-level opening-up will not only create new space for its own development, but also offer greater opportunities for Northeast Asian countries to share in the benefits of China's growth.

Northeast Asia consists of China, Russia, Mongolia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea and Japan. The region boasts favorable transport conditions, and covers a vast area with rich human, mining and marine resources, as well as strong industrial capability.

Hu Chunhua, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said Northeast Asian economies, each with their own strengths, form one of the world's most dynamic regions.

China will work with other Northeast Asian countries to promote regional growth, deepen industrial coordination and advance green development, Hu said.

Idesh Batkhuu, state secretary of Mongolia's Ministry of Economy and Development, said the expo will play a key role in advancing multilateral cooperation in Northeast Asia, driving regional integration, fostering mutual understanding and boosting broader collaboration.

"We will expand trade volumes with other countries in the region, while diversifying product categories, optimizing the trade structure, developing value-added supply chains, and increasing both the quantity and variety of non-mineral exports," he said.

Highlighting the importance of the expo, Yan Dong, China's vice-minister of commerce, said that Northeast Asian countries share geographical proximity, cultural bonds and strong commercial ties, with complementary strengths in resources and enormous potential for regional economic cooperation.

Practical cooperation between China and other Northeast Asian countries has deepened across various fields, maintaining positive momentum in economic and trade exchanges, he said.

Trade between China and the five Northeast Asian countries amounted to $901.6 billion in 2024, up 1.6 percent year-on-year, accounting for nearly 15 percent of China's total foreign trade. China has maintained its position as the largest trading partner for all five countries, with the Republic of Korea and Japan ranking as its second and third-largest trading partners, respectively, statistics from the Ministry of Commerce showed.

Two-way investment between China and the five countries exceeded $7 billion last year, with cooperation expanding into emerging fields, including digital economy, green development, advanced manufacturing and modern services.

Li Xingqian, vice-chairman of the Beijing-headquartered China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said that China and Northeast Asian countries have deepened strategic alignment and open cooperation in recent years, with supply chains becoming more integrated.

"While traditional industries anchor the economy, rising cooperation in emerging sectors is driving new momentum for regional growth," said Li.

Siping Shengya Hygienic Products, an exhibitor at the 15th China-Northeast Asia Expo and a Siping, Jilin-based manufacturer of care wipes and antibacterial agents, saw its export value rise 31.6 percent year-on-year to 353,000 yuan ($49,292) in the first seven months of 2025, with shipments to Russia, the Republic of Korea and Japan, according to Changchun Customs.

"We will further expand our markets and enable more consumers in Northeast Asia and beyond to experience the unique appeal of traditional Chinese medicine-based care products," said Huo Wei, the company's president.

German chemical group BASF, another participant in the expo, said it will strengthen its surface treatment business by providing paint solutions to Chinese automakers and further enhancing the local automotive industry's value chain.

"China is changing its growth model and placing a strong focus on sustainability. BASF is determined to contribute to this development and enable our local customers' green transformation," said Jens Hildebrandt, vice-president of government relations at BASF China.