NANNING - The upcoming China-ASEAN Expo is expected to draw more than 2,200 companies from China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), organizers said on Thursday.

The 12th expo is slated to be held in Nanning, capital of South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, from Sept 18 to 21.

Companies have applied for more than 5,500 booths at the expo, while 4,600 booths are planned, said Hu Suojin, an official with China's Ministry of Commerce.

Compared to past years, more ASEAN exhibitors in competitive industries such as food and beverage and daily commodities, will bring their products to the expo this year, according to Hu.

In addition, 27 forums on industrial cooperation, e-commerce, environmental protection, tourism, among other fields, will be held during the event centered on cooperation on jointly building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Initiated in 2004, the expo serves as an important platform to promote bilateral trade and relationships between China and the ASEAN.

China is the ASEAN's largest trading partner, while ASEAN ranks as China's third-largest trading partner. The bilateral trade between China and the ASEAN increased 8.23 percent year on year to $480 billion in 2014.