Over the past three decades, China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have cultivated a robust partnership, fostering practical cooperation across various fields. This collaboration has advanced the establishment of the ASEAN Community and promoted regional economic integration, making the China-ASEAN partnership one of the most successful models of cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to data from China’s Ministry of Commerce, bilateral trade between China and ASEAN countries—such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore—has each exceeded $100 billion. China has remained ASEAN’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, while ASEAN has been China’s largest trading partner for four straight years. Together, they account for over one-fifth of the global economy, serving as a vital engine for global and regional economic recovery.
The fruitful results of China-ASEAN cooperation are attributed to collective efforts in both “hard connectivity” and “soft connectivity.”
“Hard Connectivity” Boosts Infrastructure
Collaboration in “hard connectivity” provides an infrastructure guarantee. Chongqing and Singapore function as the “dual hubs” of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor jointly built by China and ASEAN. By integrating various methods of transportation—rail, road, air, and sea—the new corridor has closely connected western China with the ASEAN region.
In the three years since the China-Laos Railway commenced operations, its daily passenger traffic has increased from 20,000 to a peak of 100,000. Linked with the New Western Land-Sea Corridor and the China Railway Express, the China-Laos Railway’s cross-border cargo network now extends to 19 countries and regions. The opening of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway has significantly reduced travel time between Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, and the Sihanoukville Port. Over the past two years, the expressway has seen total traffic volume exceeding 10 million vehicles, averaging 13,000 vehicles daily.
Beyond the construction of land routes, China and ASEAN have also worked together on “hard connectivity” projects in areas such as port shipping, air transportation, and energy pipelines. These efforts have effectively improved the business environment of industrial parks. Economic zones like the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, the Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone, the Long Jiang Industrial Park, and the Vientiane Saysettha Development Zone have attracted numerous enterprises, actively boosting local employment and driving industrial upgrades in ASEAN countries.
A Shared Future Through Cooperation
The partnership between China and ASEAN demonstrates the power of regional cooperation and mutual development. By investing in infrastructure and fostering economic ties, both parties have paved the way for a prosperous future, not only for themselves but for the broader Asia-Pacific region.
As global economic challenges continue to emerge, the China-ASEAN model of cooperation stands as a beacon of successful collaboration, providing valuable insights for other regions seeking growth through partnership.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
