China News Service, September 27, Li Chenggang, Assistant Minister of Commerce, said on the 27th that from January to August this year, the total trade value between China and ASEAN reached US$416.55 billion, an increase of 3.8% year-on-year, accounting for 14.6% of China's total foreign trade value.
ASEAN has historically become China's largest trading partner, forming a good pattern in which China and ASEAN are each other's largest trading partners.
The State Council Information Office held a press conference on the 27th to introduce China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation and the 17th China-ASEAN Expo, China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, and answer reporters’ questions.
Regarding the situation of China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation, Li Chenggang introduced that since the beginning of this year, the global new crown pneumonia epidemic has been raging. Under the background of increasing downward pressure on the economy of various countries and the sharp shrinking of international trade, China and ASEAN countries have overcome the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic. Cooperation grew against the trend.
First, the bilateral trade volume continues to grow. In the face of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, China and ASEAN countries have established "fast channels" to facilitate personnel exchanges, support each other with epidemic prevention materials and medical equipment, accelerate the resumption of work and production, and maintain the momentum of cooperation in the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" .
Strengthen interconnection, maintain the stability of the industrial chain and supply chain, and jointly promote regional economic recovery.
From January to August this year, the total trade value between China and ASEAN reached US$416.55 billion, an increase of 3.8% year-on-year, accounting for 14.6% of China’s total foreign trade value.
ASEAN has historically become China's largest trading partner, forming a good pattern in which China and ASEAN are each other's largest trading partners.
The second is the strong vitality of investment cooperation.
In the first half of this year, China's investment in ASEAN reached 6.23 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 53.1% year-on-year, accounting for 76.7% of China's investment in countries along the "Belt and Road" in the first half of this year. ASEAN's actual foreign investment in China increased by 5.9% year-on-year.
ASEAN has become a key area for Chinese enterprises to invest abroad, and has played an active role in promoting economic recovery in the region and boosting employment.
Third, cooperation in the digital economy is getting closer.
The new crown pneumonia epidemic has spawned the development of new industries and new business formats. China and ASEAN have accelerated their exploration of digital transformation and development, and the digital economy cooperation has become increasingly close, which has become a new highlight of China-ASEAN cooperation.
This year is the China-ASEAN Digital Economy Cooperation Year. Many projects such as the "China-ASEAN Information Port" and the "China-ASEAN Business Communication Digital Platform" are providing a powerful boost to the digital economy cooperation between China and ASEAN countries.
Fourth, regional economic cooperation is advancing steadily.
2020 is the 10th anniversary of the completion of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. With the full effect of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Upgrade Protocol last year, the economic integration between China and ASEAN countries has improved both in scale and quality. To a higher level.
The Lancang River, Mekong River, Greater Mekong Subregion, China-ASEAN Eastern Growth Area, China Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor and other sub-regional cooperation are vigorously developing. Further breakthroughs have been made in the construction of economic corridors, and the “Belt and Road” initiative has been deepened and the ASEAN development plan is connected and progressed steadily. Interconnection projects help regional connectivity and development to accelerate and upgrade.
Li Chenggang said that China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation has achieved remarkable results, and China-ASEAN Expo has played an important role in it. China-ASEAN Expo has been held for 16 years, adhering to the purpose of promoting the construction of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and building an important platform for bilateral economic and trade cooperation. , Unblocked trade and investment channels, promoted international production capacity cooperation and Chinese enterprises’ "going out", enhanced exchanges in finance, logistics, technology and other fields, promoted the construction of the “Belt and Road”, and enabled regional enterprises and people to gain tangible benefits. Interests.
He also introduced that the 17th China-ASEAN Expo will be held in Nanning, Guangxi from November 27-30, 2020. While the physical exhibition is being held, the "Cloud Expo" will be launched simultaneously.
Holding the China-ASEAN Expo under a normalized epidemic prevention and control situation is not only an innovative measure to respond to the impact of the epidemic and stabilize the basic situation of foreign trade and foreign investment, but also to promote the pragmatic development of economic and trade cooperation, accelerate the recovery of the regional economy, and support the practical actions of the global economy. major.
Li Chenggang said that under the new situation, China is willing to work together with ASEAN countries to further play the role of the China-ASEAN Expo platform, firmly promote trade and investment facilitation, and jointly stabilize and upgrade the regional industrial chain supply chain, in order to promote regional economic integration and maintain multilateralism. The trade system and the construction of an open world economy have made new contributions.
"On behalf of the Ministry of Commerce of China, I sincerely invite friends from the press to participate in the China-ASEAN Expo. At the same time, I hope that the media from various countries will continue to care and support China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation," he said.