China-ASEAN Cooperation Yields Results With US$1 Trillion Trade

From Rohani Mohd Ibrahim

BEIJING, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Practical cooperation in various sectors between China and ASEAN countries has yielded results, with trade volume totalling about US$1 trillion in 2024, said China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun. 

He said in a press conference today that China and ASEAN have been each other’s largest trading partners for five consecutive years; two-way investment exceeded US$450 billion by July 2025.

“Recently, the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo convened with the launch of 70 new products, underscoring the potential of China and ASEAN countries in seizing new development opportunities and opening up prospects for cooperation,” he added. 

According to Guo, the increasingly complex international landscape calls for efforts to focus on cooperation with an eye on the win-win principle.

He said China is ready to enhance connectivity with all parties, including ASEAN countries, to jointly promote regional integration and economic globalisation and to bring about the benefits of openness and cooperation to more people and countries.

Guo said from 2024 to 2025, the two sides jointly held a series of activities for the “China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchange,” which strengthened exchanges and helped forged closer bonds.

The two sides also cooperated in the digital economy, artificial intelligence and new energy, which improved the quality of and encouraged innovation in regional development, he added.

He said the China-Laos railway is a Belt and Road flagship project between China and ASEAN, and a joint effort to promote regional economic integration. 

-- BERNAMA