NANNING, Oct.24 (Xinhua) -- The 6th China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Expo held here had attracted high-ranking officials and businessmen from China and the ten ASEAN countries to discuss regional cooperation and strengthen communication on the upcoming free trade area.

    The Expo, which started here on Oct.20, is scheduled to close on Saturday. The following are some notable quotes made during the Expo:

    "After ten years of unremitting efforts, the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) will be established as planned on Jan. 1, 2010.By then, zero-tariff treatment will be realized for 90 percent of the products traded between China and ASEAN countries, while the service trade market between the two sides will be opened in a substantial way. This is a significant milestone in regional economic cooperation, which marks that trade ties between China and ASEAN are to enter a new stage." -- Li Keqiang, China's Vice Premier.

    "Against the backdrop of unrecovered global economy, the establishment of CAFTA fully reveals the determination and faith of China and ASEAN countries in promoting facilitation of trade and investment and opposing trade and investment protectionism in any form." -- Li Keqiang.

    "The CAFTA, which would be fully established in January, 2010, will be the biggest free trade area in the world, covering a population of 1.9 billion in this region and create a combined GDP of nearly 6 trillion US dollars. The CAFTA would further promote the China-ASEAN economic cooperation that had already been accelerating. Clearing up the trade barriers would reduce trading cost and increase the effectiveness of the China-ASEAN cooperation." -- Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General of ASEAN.

    "The CAFTA would provide zero tariff on 90 percent of products traded between China and ASEAN, which is a great chance for companies from both China and Vietnam to upgrade structure and conduct investment in a more open market of China, Vietnam and other ASEAN members, especially the markets in bordering provinces." -- Nguyen Sinh Hung, Vietnam's Permanent Deputy Prime Minister.

    "The rising trend of trade protectionism is inconsistent with the WTO principle of trade facilitation, and will hamper the global economic recovery. All countries should follow the principle of mutual respect and equal consultation, boost communication, enhance practical cooperation, firmly oppose trade protectionism, further promote trade facilitation, create a transparent, equal and open trade environment, and push forward the recovery and development of global trade and economy." -- Sheng Guangzu, Director of the General Administration of Customs of China.

    "Financial cooperation between China and ASEAN is still at the initial phase and financial markets were not open enough. But potential for cooperation was huge as finance in China and ASEAN seeing fast development currently." -- Su Ning, vice governor of China's central bank.

    "I believed RMB would play a more important role in bilateral trade between China and ASEAN in the future. Yuan was a very stable currency and expanding its use could help reduce risks faced by the ASEAN countries in using the U.S. dollar, which has become highly volatile as a result of the global financial crisis." -- Alongkorn Ponlaboot, deputy minister of commerce of Thailand.

    "The official establishment of the CAFTA would bring the China-ASEAN cooperation to a new stage, and the two sides should take more actions in detailed operation and the establishment of a solid footing for further cooperation." Xu Ningning, executive secretary general of China-ASEAN Business Council.