ASEAN nations keen to attract Chinese investors

Officials from several Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have expressed their keenness to attract more investment from Chinese enterprises to boost bilateral development. "Thailand is in the center area of the ASEAN countries and owns convenient transportation, excellent infrastructure, favorable investment policy and monetary policy. It's very suitable for Chinese investors," said Chitraporn Arpornrat, Thai consul-general in Nanning,capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Industries like rubber products, agricultural machinery and equipment, electronic components and light rail components and systems are among those most favorable for Chinese enterprises to invest in, said the Thai diplomat during a forum held in Qinzhou City, Guangxi on Friday. Lao Consul General in Nanning Phonekham Inthaboualy said Laos is rich in forest resources and mineral resources like iron, gold and copper and he hoped Chinese companies to invest in. Cambodian Consul in Nanning Keo Thoeun highlighted Cambodia's advantage in human resources. "Cambodia' s population is over 14 million, of which 51 percent are in their working age." he said, "Compared with other Asian countries, Cambodia's labor costs are low. " By the end of June, Chinese direct investment in ASEAN nations totaled nearly 30 billion U.S. dollars, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.