China has a strong desire to promote economic and trade ties with countries in Northeast Asia, where economic development remains dynamic amid the global trade downturn, Vice-Minister of Commerce Chen Jian said on Tuesday.

Chen made the remarks at a news conference in Beijing on the Ninth China-Northeast Asia Expo (CNEA Expo), due to be held later this year.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission and Jilin provincial government, it is a State-level expo involving all Northeast Asian countries, and is aimed at deepening economic and cultural exchanges in the region.

Deputy governor of Jilin province Chen Weigen announced that the expo will open on Sept 6 in Changchun, capital of Jilin province. A series of conferences and forums will be held during the expo including business days of Northeast Asian countries, a Northeast Asian think-tank forum, and the EU-China business meeting.

Chen Jian said that China is willing to work with Northeast Asian nations to strengthen, expand and upgrade cooperation through bilateral and multilateral communication.

As one of the most dynamic economic regions in the world, Northeast Asia has witnessed rapid economic in the past few years, said Chen Jian, adding that China will strive to boost regional economic development. China's trade with countries in Northeast Asian increased in 2012, apart from Japan.

In 2012, China-Russia trade reached a record high of $88.1 billion, a year-on-year increase of 11.2 percent. Sino-South Korean trade totaled $256.3 billion, up 4.4 percent on the previous year.

"We are actively promoting the development of free trade areas in Northeast Asia," Chen said.

baochang@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 04/03/2013 page14)