The Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center is ready to welcome visitors for the 18th China-ASEAN Expo, which opens on Friday in Nanning, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo by Peng Huan/For China Daily]

The average annual growth rate of bilateral trade between China and ASEAN nations reached 16.5 percent since the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relationship in 1991, according to the data released by the General Administration of Customs on Friday.