China News Service, Haikou, November 1st (Reporter Wang Ziqian) This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN. How will the cooperation between the two sides develop in the new era?

At the "China-ASEAN Economic and Trade Cooperation Seminar" held in Haikou on October 31, experts at the meeting pointed out that China's construction of a new development pattern will provide greater space for economic and trade cooperation between the two sides, and the digital economy may become a bright spot.

　　ASEAN and China are each other's largest trading partners. With the signing and gradual implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), the economic ties between the two sides will become closer.

　　"China-ASEAN trade cooperation is a prominent highlight of the world economy. As China accelerates the construction of a new development pattern, it will bring huge opportunities to both parties." Zhang Xuegang, deputy director of the Institute of Southeast Asia and Oceania of the China Institute of Modern International Relations, said China -ASEAN has strong complementarity in traditional industrial chains such as agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism, and there is also broad space for future cooperation in financial and other fields under the RCEP framework.

　　Guo Da, assistant to the dean of the China (Hainan) Institute of Reform and Development, believes that China-ASEAN should seize the opportunity of RCEP to improve the level of market integration.

For example, we will promote in-depth cooperation in the industrial system with the focus on production capacity cooperation and service trade, promote the in-depth integration of the market system with the focus on standard docking, and focus on the joint construction of the bond market to enhance financial stability in the region.

　　Zhao Jinping, former director of the Department of Foreign Economic Research of the Development Research Center of the State Council of China, noted that although trade protectionism and the impact of the new crown epidemic have caused a deep adjustment of the global supply chain, the degree of closeness of trade between China and ASEAN is deepening.

"This shows that the cooperation between the two parties is not only embodied in the field of industrial division of trade, but also includes mutual direct investment." Zhao Jinping said that the long-term focus of such cooperation is to continue to expand investment.

　　Experts believe that the focus of China and ASEAN's next cooperation lies in the digital industry.

According to Li Yao, a researcher at the Institute of East Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore, the current proportion of ASEAN Internet users is 70%, and the market value of the digital economy is US$100 billion, which is estimated to grow to US$300 billion in 2025.

In the context of the “Belt and Road” construction, the two parties have a lot of room for cooperation in 5G investment, artificial intelligence, smart cities, and e-commerce.

However, issues such as technical standards and cross-border data transmission must be resolved.

　　Zhao Jinping believes that the current cooperation between the two parties in digital industrialization has achieved practical results, and the next step of cooperation should focus on industrial digitalization. Upgrading the value chain."

　　Hainan is building a free trade port with Chinese characteristics to provide a new platform for China-ASEAN cooperation.

Chi Fulin, director of the China (Hainan) Reform and Development Research Institute, said that the Hainan Free Trade Port is at the intersection of two cycles and should focus on creating a connection point with ASEAN markets, industries, and personnel.

He suggested that Hainan establish a regional intellectual property trading market, carbon trading market, and regional shipping trading market for ASEAN, prepare for the establishment of a regional financial market; establish a base for the preservation, processing, storage and export of tropical agricultural products for ASEAN; take the lead in exploring and developing in Hainan Vocational and technical immigration points system, explore the establishment of Hainan Free Trade Port and Southeast Asia think tank alliance.

　　Hu Yishan, a senior researcher at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, also believes that the Hainan Free Trade Port can serve as a hub for the exchange of personnel and goods between China and Southeast Asian countries.

He suggested that under effective control of the epidemic, Hainan's flights to and from major cities in Southeast Asian countries should be encrypted, the Pan-South China Sea cruise route should be opened as soon as possible, and the economic and trade cooperation between the free trade zone of Southeast Asian countries and the Hainan Free Trade Port should be strengthened.

(over)