china-ASEAN Expo Poised to Boost High-Tech Collaboration, Indonesian Scholar Says
Nanning, China – September 22, 2025 – The 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), currently underway in Nanning, is expected to considerably strengthen bilateral ties through increased cooperation in high technology, according to an Indonesian international relations expert. Klaus heinrich Raditio, a lecturer at the Driyarkara School of Beliefs in Jakarta, highlighted the expo’s potential to unlock Southeast Asia’s economic opportunities and foster sustainable partnerships with China.
“The expo will highlight Southeast Asia’s economic potential while paving the way for sustainable cooperation with China,” Raditio told Xinhua in a recent interview.
Raditio emphasized the benefits of Chinese investment in sectors like information technology and artificial intelligence (AI) for the ASEAN region, especially Indonesia, where a large youth population is driving demand for technological advancements. He specifically cited opportunities in AI, software, semiconductors, and chip manufacturing.
“it would be great to see more Chinese companies in the IT industries, especially in AI, software, semiconductors, and chips, investing in the region,” he stated.
China has already established a presence in the IT and semiconductor industries in neighboring ASEAN countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. Raditio believes expanding this investment to Indonesia, with its meaningful potential in AI, software, and communications, would be mutually beneficial.
Beyond economic collaboration, the relationship between China and ASEAN is underpinned by strong diplomatic ties and growing cultural exchange. Raditio noted that both sides have successfully “maintained regional stability through dialog, consultation, and adherence to international law, while culturally, the two sides are drawing closer through growing people-to-people exchanges and tourism.”
He concluded that these positive factors “undoubtedly create a favorable environment for advancing economic collaboration between the two sides.”
