(VOVworld) – The 2014 International East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) Trade and Tourism Fair opened on Friday in Da Nang city.

More than 300 stands representing 150 domestic and foreign businesses including Thailand, Laos, Malaysia and South Africa, took part in the event. The Fair is held annually to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation between localities in EWEC countries and other international partners, as well as promote bilateral exchange activities in trade, tourism and investment. Nguyen Tien Minh, Head of the ASEAN Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “The event is significant as it aims to connect ASEAN countries and promote trade. This is also an ASEAN priority in the bid to establish an ASEAN Economic Community”.

A workshop on ASEAN Economic Community 2015 and its impact on regional cooperation in the East-West Economic Corridor was also held in the framework of the Fair.