From Two Parallel Exhibitions to One Connected Industrial Chain: Upgrading the Green Sector to Serve China-ASEAN FTA Version 3.0

NANNING, China, Oct. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- During the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo, the Dual-Carbon Smart Energy Exhibition and the New Energy and Intelligent Connected Vehicle Exhibition were presented under a unified green development framework for the first time. This marked a shift from "two parallel exhibitions" to "one connected industrial chain," upgrading the exhibition model and making the two exhibitions an important platform for implementing the China-ASEAN FTA Version 3.0 and supporting China's carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals as well as the national strategy for building a global automotive powerhouse.

The two exhibitions highlight the first time in three aspects. The first dedicated opening ceremony brought chain-leading enterprises, ASEAN buyers, government authorities, financial institutions and research institutes together, moving the "Nanning channel" from the exhibition floor to the stage of consensus building. An event launch zone was introduced for the first time, bringing "display, launch, business matchmaking and project signing" into a single visitor flow. A dedicated new power system zone was also launched for the first time, creating an entry point for taking "Chinese solutions" overseas.

In terms of organization, the two exhibitions were driven by new power systems and intelligent connected vehicles, while the participation ecosystem was reorganized around chain-leading enterprises driving smaller enterprises. ASEAN demand catalogues were used to organize Chinese supply, shifting the exhibitions from simply "viewing exhibitions" toward transactions and ecosystem building. New energy vehicles are becoming mobile energy storage units, charging piles are becoming nodes of new power systems, and intelligent connected vehicles are evolving into integrated energy and transport solutions connecting vehicles, roads, clouds and networks.

Representatives of the China-ASEAN Young Leaders Growth Programme spoke at the opening ceremony, calling for greater use of youth strength to deepen cooperation in clean energy, digital intelligence and mutual recognition of standards, and promote two-way flows of technology and talent. At the forum held concurrently, the China Electricity Council (CEC) signed memorandums of understanding with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Lao PDR and the Environmental Engineering Association of Thailand, establishing a long-term mechanism for mutual learning on regional power standards and energy infrastructure development.

Looking ahead, the two exhibitions will promote the export of green electricity, energy storage, hydrogen energy and energy-saving equipment to ASEAN, advance the overseas expansion of new energy complete vehicles, intelligent driving, three-electric systems and battery charging and swapping, and drive the regional export of China's power grid technologies, standards and engineering capabilities, translating the policy text of FTA Version 3.0 into orders enterprises can secure, projects they can build and standards they can recognize, for the benefit of people in the region.

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcmEYzPoC88

SOURCE The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo