ASEAN-China trade approximates 600 billion USD in seven months
China has remained ASEAN's top trading partner for 16 consecutive years while ASEAN has been China's largest for five straight years.
Containers of goods are handled at a port in Vietnam. China has remained ASEAN's top trading partner for 16 consecutive years while ASEAN has been China's largest for five straight years. (Photo: VNA)
Beijing (VNA)༺ – Trade between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China reached 597 billion USD in the first seven months of this year, up 8.2% year-on-year and accounting for 16.7% of China’s total foreign trade during the period, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
China has remained ASEAN's top trading partner for 16 consecutive years while ASEAN has been China's largest for five straight years, said Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong.
In 2024, China's bilateral trade with Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore each exceeded 100 billion USD. In particular, trade with Vietnam and Malaysia surpassed 200 billion USD, Yan noted.
He said negotiations on Version 3.0 of the China – ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA 3.0) have been concluded, marking the first time a comprehensive cooperation framework has been established to link both "hard connectivity" in digital infrastructure and "soft connectivity" in rules and standards, alongside upgraded regulations. With steady progress in cooperation and the growing institutional benefits of trade and investment facilitation, the scope of China – ASEAN regional economic integration has been continuously expanded and deepened.
Yan added that the 22nd China – ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) will take place in Nanning, the capital of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, from September 17 to 21, 2025, with about 3,200 exhibitors from 45 countries expected to participate in. This year’s CAEXPO will feature new exhibition areas, including those on artificial intelligence (AI), new quality productive forces, the blue economy, and premium foreign trade products, showcasing the latest achievements in China – ASEAN cooperation./.
The ACFTA, launched in 2000, became one of the world’s largest free trade agreements by 2010, when Version 1.0 eliminated tariffs on over 90% of traded goods.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The "ASEAN Visa" is launched on the basis of comprehensive mutual visa exemption with countries such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, as well as the issuance of the "Lancang-Mekong visa" for Mekong River nations, aiming to further facilitate cross-border travel within the region.
The Indonesian Government has just unveiled a plan to roll out five priority programmes in 2025, aiming to generate more than 3 million new jobs while fostering sustainable economic growth and enhancing the competitiveness of its agro-fishery sectors.
Running through September 20, the event marks the first time an official platform has been created within the AIPA framework to connect the private sector with policymakers, aiming to discuss pressing issues such as economic growth, sustainability, digitalisation, and social inclusion.
Colonel David Dwi Martin W, Director of Training for the Indonesian Air Force, said that the exercise helps deepen ties between the two air forces while fostering mutual trust and respect between the two nations.
In its initial phase, the programme will recruit 20,000 fresh graduates. Each participant will receive a monthly stipend equal to the provincial minimum wage — currently 3.3 million IDR (200 USD) — for a six-month period.
ASEAN Express, a new cross-border freight rail service, is being hailed as a breakthrough in international rail connectivity, expected to strengthen Thailand’s and ASEAN’s economic competitiveness in the near future.
An illegal wildlife trade case involving 16 protected eagles has been busted in Central Bangka district, Bangka Belitung Islands province of Indonesia.
Singapore has been ranked fifth among 139 economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, marking the third consecutive year it has remained in the top five.
Senior defence officials of the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Philippines discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in defence and weapon industry at their meeting in Seoul on September 15.
From September 16, residents and visitors can enjoy a safer, cleaner, and higher-quality travel option aboard the company’s signature cyan taxis, with special promotions available for new users.
The declaration, endorsed at the ASEAN Prosecutors/Attorneys General Meeting (APAGM) in Bali, commits regional prosecutors to closer coordination in addressing transnational offenses such as online gambling, scams, corruption, money laundering, and cross-border asset smuggling.
CAMEX features 17 themed pavilions, including 10 dedicated to ASEAN member states – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – as well as a regional pavilion from Guangxi, China. It also hosts a special World Halal Trade Centre and themed areas for other Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) members such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
The Indonesian government has confirmed that it will stop providing incentives for imported completely built-up (CBU) battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from 2026.
The ministry warned that the RSV can easily spread through mucus, saliva and toys around children. Currently, there is no specific treatment or RSV vaccine for children, so families were urged to take preventive measures.
Thailand has emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing markets for artificial intelligence (AI), with OpenAI reporting that weekly active users of ChatGPT in the country have quadrupled over the past year.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is driving forward the Land Bridge mega-project, valued at nearly 1 trillion THB (31.5 billion USD), to stimulate the economy and attract long-term investment.
A discussion on Vietnamese cuisine, culture and tourism was held in Tel Aviv on September 14, aiming to deepen the understanding of Vietnamese culture and promote people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and Israel, especially as the two countries expand cooperation across multiple fields.
Confirmed initiatives include the revival of the popular "Half-Half" co-payment scheme. Other proposals under discussion - though not yet finalised - include the "We Travel Together" tourism stimulus programme, decentralisation efforts and disaster mitigation strategies.
Fidel’s words to the gathered soldiers: “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its own blood!” captured the very essence of the friendship forged between the two nations, a relationship nurtured through resilience, dignity, and internationalist spirit.
