Diverse ASEAN products shine at CAEXPO 2026, Timor-Leste banks on coffee
NANNING, 17 September 2026 (TATOLI) – A wide range of flagship products from ASEAN Member States are on display at the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning, China. Amid the vast exhibition space and diverse products on offer, Timor-Leste marked its debut by showcasing coffee as one of its key products to reach a wider international market.
CAEXPO 2026 is being held at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, from September 17 to 21, 2026.
Observations at the venue on Thursday showed ASEAN countries making full use of the exhibition space to showcase a variety of flagship products. Several nations are represented by numerous booths, with Thailand standing out through its extensive presence and wide range of consumer offerings.
Food and beverages, agricultural products, handicrafts, consumer goods, and technology are among the items showcased, making CAEXPO not only a platform for ASEAN and Chinese goods but also a vital venue for businesses to explore new markets and establish connections with potential partners.
Timor-Leste makes historic debut
Among the ASEAN countries, Timor-Leste is participating in CAEXPO for the first time as ASEAN’s 11th member and a co-organizer. Its participation this year also marks the first time all 11 ASEAN Member States have gathered at CAEXPO in Nanning.
Several businesses from Timor-Leste are participating in the event, including Kafe Atsabe, Hey Day Coffee, Suhurama, Similie, and Kopi Avo Siak. Coffee is among the most prominent products showcased at the Timor-Leste booth, drawing significant attention from visitors.
Kafe Atsabe representative Florencia da Conceição said Timor-Leste’s debut at the Expo is expected to provide a vital opportunity to introduce Timorese coffee to consumers and potential partners from overseas.
“Many people have come to our booth, and they are interested because Timor-Leste coffee has a distinctive and different aroma,” Florencia told TATOLI at the exhibition.
She noted that participating in an international exhibition such as CAEXPO provides an opportunity for Timorese coffee to gain greater recognition abroad, particularly amid China’s vast market and the growing trade relationship between China and ASEAN countries.
Expanding trade and AI integration
This year’s CAEXPO brings together more than 3,400 companies from over 70 countries and regions, representing a 5.3% increase compared with the previous edition. The total exhibition area covers approximately 170,000 square meters.
Secretary-General of the China-ASEAN Expo Secretariat Wang Jicai said trade between China and ASEAN continues to show strong growth. According to Chinese customs data, bilateral trade reached $744.41 billion in the first seven months of 2026, marking a 24.7% increase year-on-year.
This growth coincides with the expanding application of artificial intelligence (AI) across economic activities, including marketing, agriculture, logistics, and finance. AI is also one of the major attractions at this year’s CAEXPO, featuring an “AI marketplace” that showcases around 500 products from more than 70 companies across eight categories, including wearable devices, health management technologies, and AI-powered consumer products.
“Last year, AI was mostly for show. This year, it is driving sales,” Wang Jicai said.
Guangxi is actively expanding cooperation with ASEAN countries in AI applications. The China-ASEAN Artificial Intelligence Application Cooperation Center has catalogued more than 1,000 potential AI application scenarios, with 279 opened to developers. The center has also established offices in Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia, supported more than 30 cross-border projects, and formed an alliance involving 55 companies.
Strengthening CAFTA and Supporting MSMEs
The scale of China-ASEAN economic relations was highlighted by ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in his address at the opening of CAEXPO.
“ASEAN and China are each other’s largest trading partners, with two-way trade exceeding $1 trillion in 2025,” Kao Kim Hourn said.
He noted that the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) has been central to this growth by widening market access, strengthening trade and investment flows, and helping businesses integrate more deeply into regional and global supply chains.
The upcoming CAFTA 3.0 Upgrade takes the partnership forward by expanding cooperation into areas critical to future competitiveness, including the digital economy, green economy, supply chain connectivity, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) development. Kao Kim Hourn stressed that the market access opportunities provided by CAFTA 3.0 must translate into tangible benefits for businesses of all sizes, particularly MSMEs.
“MSMEs make up the overwhelming majority of enterprises across ASEAN and China, yet many still face difficulties in accessing markets, technology, finance, and regional production networks,” he said.
He encouraged ASEAN and China to work together to equip MSMEs with the capacity, knowledge, digital skills, and business tools needed to make effective use of the agreement, enabling them to connect more meaningfully with regional markets.
Looking ahead
For Timor-Leste, participation alongside thousands of companies at CAEXPO provides an exceptional platform for local businesses to showcase their products, build business networks, and explore opportunities in the broader China-ASEAN market. Premium coffee presented by Kafe Atsabe and other Timorese enterprises remains a centerpiece of the country’s inaugural showcase.
Meanwhile, ASEAN journalists participating in the ASEAN Media Workshop in Guangxi attended and directly covered CAEXPO as part of their third-day program. The delegates joined more than 100 journalists from China and other countries, dedicating the day to exploring the exhibition and visiting ASEAN national booths.
The 23rd CAEXPO is being held under the theme “CAFTA 3.0 Opportunities, Better Life” and runs through September 21, 2026, in Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Journalist: Cidalia Fátima
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
