PHNOM PENH, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has encouraged businesspeople, entrepreneurs, investors and producers to participate in the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), scheduled for Sept. 17-21 in Nanning, capital city of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said a Ministry of Commerce's statement on Saturday.

The CAEXPO is a significant platform for business and investment exchange between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and China, the statement said.

Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said the annual expo serves as a platform to enhance economic collaboration, promote trade, and foster regional integration between China and ASEAN member states.

"The 22nd China-ASEAN Expo will facilitate the exchange of business ideas, showcase products and services, and encourage investment opportunities, playing a crucial role in strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations between China and ASEAN," he told Xinhua.

"It will promote high-quality regional development through a variety of economic and trade activities, laying a solid foundation for building a more connected, resilient and dynamic region," he added. ■