Timor-Leste joins the Nanning Expo for the first time as a full ASEAN member
NANNING, 29 September 2026 (TATOLI) – A momentous chapter in regional integration unfolded as Timor-Leste participated for the first time as a full ASEAN member state in the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Guangxi, China.
The landmark trade event was officially inaugurated by Chinese Vice Prime Minister Ding Xuexiang, alongside ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn and leaders from all 11 ASEAN member countries, including Timor-Leste.
The Timor-Leste delegation was headed directly by the Minister of Commerce and Industry (MKI), Nino Pereira, who attended the opening ceremony and inaugurated the national pavilion.
“The expo is an important platform in economic cooperation between China and ASEAN members, to strengthen economic relations, especially in the area of investment, trade and other activities related to tourism and culture,” Minister Nino told TATOLI in Nanning.
Emphasizing the economic advantages of the country’s new status, Minister Nino added, “We came to participate to demonstrate some of our products that we have recognized with our cooperation partnership with China and there are some products that we have exported to China and we consider that China is a potential market for Timor-Leste.”
Expanded scale and strategic focus
According to the official CAEXPO organizing committee, this year’s exhibition gathered over 3,400 enterprises from 70 countries and regions across an expansive 170,000-square-meter exhibition area. Centered around the theme “CAFTA 3.0 Opportunities, Better Life,” the 2026 edition placed special emphasis on emerging business prospects within the digital economy and green development sectors.
Highlights of Timor-Leste’s National Pavilion:
• Featured Goods: Organic Timorese coffee, vanilla, processed fruits, and traditional tais handicrafts.
• Core Objectives: To attract high-value Chinese investments and expand export penetration into the broader regional market.
Broader economic context
Timor-Leste’s historic debut follows its formal accession as a full member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in late 2025. Bilateral and regional commerce continues to scale new heights, backed by strong trade momentum that saw China-ASEAN trade volume rise to $1.05 trillion by the close of 2025, alongside the implementation of the upgraded CAFTA 3.0 free trade agreement.
Journalist: Hortêncio Sanchez
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
