Officials in Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region are striving to make the most of the coming China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Expo.

They especially hope it becomes a new platform for seeking investment -- from around the world.

The regional government's latest move was the high-profile visit last week by senior officials to neighbouring Guangdong Province to promote business opportunities and to seek investors in Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao.

The delegation proposed 140 projects, worth a combined 26.5 billion yuan (US$3.19 billion).

The delegation wants Guangdong enterprises to invest in the restructuring of 50 firms in Guangxi Zhuang Autonoumous Region. The companies' combined assets are worth 3 billion yuan (US$362 million).

And the delegation also sought enterprises in Guangdong Province to regroup 50 enterprises with assets worth 3 billion yuan (US$361.45 million) there.

The China-ASEAN Expo, while boosting economic and trade co-operation between China and ASEAN's members, will be conducive to the development of Guangxi's foreign trade and investment, said Lu Bing, chairman of the region's government.

Sponsored by China's Ministry of Commerce and ASEAN members' relevant government departments, and organized by Guangxi's government, the expo will be held November 3-6.

The event, which will be held annually, will be one of the most important international trade, investment and cultural-exchange events in Guangxi.

"Investors will benefit from the business opportunities, as a result of free trade and economic integration in the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area," Lu said.

Guangxi, situated in the centre of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, is a huge market in China's vast hinterland. It also has easy access to the ASEAN market.

Guangxi is also the only region in China connected to ASEAN by both land and sea.

Guangxi is developing its non-ferrous metal, electric power, automobile and food and medicine production sectors into its pillar industries, said Feng Zuhua, director-general of the Guangxi Economy and Trade Commission.

The region's officials are encouraging investors to get involved in those sectors.
Guangxi has forged economic and technological co-operation and trade ties with more than 140 countries and regions.

A large number of internationally renowned enterprises -- including US-based General Motors; Alcoa; France-based Group EDF; Germany-based Henkel; and Japan-based NEC -- have poured investments into the region.

Guangxi has also secured investments from more than 600 private Chinese enterprises.

The region last year realized 81.10 billion yuan (US$9.77 billion) in industrial added value, up 14.7 per cent from 2002, statistics indicate.