China and ASEAN sealed 155 investment deals at the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Thursday. The agreements span six ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, and Myanmar, and feature 94 industrial projects alongside 44 "AI plus" initiatives aimed at empowering diverse sectors with digital intelligence. Of the signed deals, 45 projects exceed one billion yuan (about 140.58 million U.S. dollars), with two surpassing the 10-billion-yuan mark. Key focus areas include new energy, high-end equipment manufacturing, commercial aerospace, and the emerging low-altitude economy. This surge in AI-enabled cooperation comes as the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA), the world’s largest among developing nations, prepares to launch its 3.0 upgrade protocol in October. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn said the upgrade reflects a shared commitment to deepening economic ties and maintaining a rules-based trading framework amid global uncertainty. The five-day expo, under the theme of "Digital Intelligence and Innovation Empower Development -- Leveraging China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 New Opportunities for An Even Closer China-ASEAN Community with a Shared Future," highlights the leading role of enterprises. Official data show that bilateral trade volumes have consistently risen, with China remaining ASEAN's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, while ASEAN has been China's largest trading partner for the past five years. SHOTLIST: Nanning City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China - Sept 18, 2025 1. Various of signing ceremony during 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in progress; Nanning City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China - Sept 16, 2025 2. Various of CAEXPO venue; 3. Sign reading "CAEXPO", flags; 4. Various of booths, exhibits, exhibitors. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]