Beyond the United States and Europe! Why has ASEAN become China's largest trading partner? ASEAN | China | Partners

This year marks the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. Over the past 20 years, China and ASEAN have adhered to the spirit of treaties, expanded mutually beneficial cooperation in all aspects, and embarked on a correct path of long-term neighborly friendship, common development and prosperity. Especially in the past three years, China and ASEAN have been each other's largest trading partners, with a total bilateral trade volume approaching trillions of US dollars. This week, the "2023 China ASEAN Week" series of activities were held in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, aiming to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and ASEAN in all fields, with high quality and sustainable development. The reporter from Blue Hall Observation interviewed ASEAN dignitaries, ambassadors to China, and think tank scholars at the scene. People from all sides generally believe that in the context of changes in international trade and new geopolitical situations, future cooperation between China and ASEAN will become a huge growth point.

In the first half of the year, China's imports and exports to ASEAN exceeded 3 trillion yuan

In early August, Fuzhou attracted guests from afar with its blooming jasmine flowers and popular Southeast Asian tropical fruit aromas. Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong of China stated at the opening ceremony of the 2023 China ASEAN Week that the relationship between China and ASEAN is like a Southeast Asian proverb that goes, "Water rises and lotus flowers rise.".

Since the beginning of this year, leaders of ASEAN countries such as the Philippines, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia have visited China successively, and high-level exchanges have maintained a heat of visiting relatives. In terms of trade, in the first half of this year, China's imports and exports to ASEAN reached 3.08 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.4%, with agricultural product imports alone reaching 125.08 billion yuan, a growth of 7.5%.

Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong: Among the imported agricultural products, the import of fresh durian increased by 65%, and 80% of the durian produced in Thailand entered the Chinese market through the China Laos railway and other channels. Chinese consumers are one step closer to achieving "durian freedom".

ASEAN China relations: the most dynamic, meaningful, and mutually beneficial

In 2003, China joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. At that time, ASEAN was China's fifth largest trading partner, and China was ASEAN's third largest trading partner. Now, 20 years have passed, and China and ASEAN have been each other's largest trading partners for three consecutive years. The bilateral trade volume in 2022 is close to trillions of US dollars, an increase of more than 12 times compared to 20 years ago. With such achievements and cooperation foundation, the guests attending the first China ASEAN Week have more confidence and expectations in the prospects of cooperation between China and ASEAN in the new era.

The Vice Chairman of the Lao National Assembly, Songma Pensena, stated that after the opening of the China Laos Railway, the mountains between Laos and China are no longer high and the roads are no longer long. ASEAN regional economic integration and connectivity have been strengthened.

ASEAN Secretary General Singh stated that the ASEAN China relationship is the most dynamic, meaningful, and mutually beneficial group among ASEAN's dialogue partners.

Since taking office, Indonesian Ambassador to China, Zhou Haoli, has visited Fuzhou 11 times. There are thousands of ASEAN students studying here, and China and Indonesia also have the first economic and trade innovation and development demonstration park between China and ASEAN countries, exploring industrial connectivity, facility connectivity, and policy reciprocity. During the China ASEAN Week, China and Indonesia held a ceremony for the commencement and production of 28 major projects, and signed contracts for 9 key projects with a total investment of nearly 30 billion yuan. Zhou Haoli told Blue Hall Observer, "Looking ahead, if we earnestly practice the cooperation concept of the leaders of both sides, I believe that the bilateral trade volume between ASEAN and China will triple in the next 20 years, and investment will correspondingly increase."

Expert: China and ASEAN share a common development concept

Why is the relationship between China and ASEAN so stable and strong? Why did ASEAN quickly replace the United States and the European Union as China's largest trading partner? Experts believe that China and ASEAN share a common development philosophy and both value a peaceful development environment.

Xu Bu, President of the China Institute of International Studies and former Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN, stated in an interview with Blue Hall Observer that one reason why China's pragmatic cooperation with ASEAN has achieved such tremendous results is that both sides are committed to prioritizing development, focusing on economic development, and improving people's living standards. Both leaders have demonstrated political foresight and wisdom, recognizing that only by dedicating themselves to pragmatic cooperation can the sustainable development of bilateral relations be truly achieved.

Wang Huiyao, Chairman of the Globalization Think Tank, told Blue Hall Observer that bilateral cooperation between China and ASEAN will also provide tremendous support for global economic development, peace and stability. Therefore, cooperation between China and ASEAN is a new direction and a new focus for our future development.

During an interview with Blue Hall Observer, Secretary General of the China ASEAN Center, Shi Zhongjun, stated that only by working together with China and ASEAN can we maintain peace and stability in the region and ensure its development and prosperity.

At present, China and ASEAN are actively promoting negotiations on the 3.0 version of the Free Trade Area, and promoting the full implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The in-depth cooperation between China and ASEAN has brought tangible benefits to 2 billion people. But at the same time, we also see that the unilateralism and protectionist policies pursued by some countries outside the region have a certain degree of impact on cooperation in the Asia Pacific region, including China and ASEAN. For the peace and stability of the Asia Pacific region, all parties need to work together to overcome this interference and cultivate the cooperation between ASEAN and China into an evergreen tree.