(Economic Observation) Joining hands for 30 years, opening a new chapter of China-ASEAN economic cooperation

　　China News Service, Beijing, November 23 (Liu Wenwen) From the establishment of dialogue relations in 1991 to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN, the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership was officially announced at the summit. China-ASEAN relations have been continuously developed and deepened over the past 30 years. , Has become one of the most dynamic, richest, and most mutually beneficial relationships in the ASEAN-Dialogue Partnership, and it has made remarkable achievements especially in economic cooperation.

　　Statistics show that ASEAN will become China's largest trading partner in 2020; from January to October this year, China-ASEAN trade reached US$703.34 billion, a year-on-year increase of 30%.

　　In an interview with a reporter from China News Agency, Xu Ningning, executive director of the China-ASEAN Business Council, said that he is very happy to see that the relationship between the two sides has changed from quantitative to qualitative in the past 30 years, and good-neighborly friendship and economic and trade cooperation have achieved fruitful results.

Facts over the past 30 years have proved that the cooperation between the two sides is beneficial to the consolidation and development of the good-neighborly and friendly relations between China and ASEAN countries, economic growth, regional economic growth and even global economic growth.

　　According to Zhang Xuegang, deputy director of the Institute of Southeast Asia and Oceania of the China Institute of Modern International Relations, the framework arrangements for economic cooperation between China and ASEAN are quite "full", which fully indicates the huge potential for future development.

China-ASEAN formally established the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area in 2010, and subsequently reached an upgraded version of the Free Trade Area agreement, version 2.0.

The summit pointed out that it will create more trade opportunities in the digital economy, cultivate new growth points for cooperation, and strive to build a more inclusive, modern, comprehensive and mutually beneficial China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.

"Today, it has become a consensus to promote the construction of the upgraded version of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0."

　　Zhang Jianping, director of the Research Center for Regional Economic Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Commerce, told a reporter from China News Agency that in the past 30 years, on the basis of mutual trust between China and ASEAN and the promotion of China’s reform and opening up, the two sides have experienced a "golden decade" of economic and trade. Cooperative development stage; under the framework of the "Belt and Road", the two sides are making continuous progress towards comprehensive and systematic cooperation.

"Today, we are committed to the direction of the'Diamond Decade'."

　　What signals of economic cooperation between China and ASEAN are revealed in the "Joint Statement of the Summit Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations" (hereinafter referred to as the "Joint Statement") issued by the summit?

　　Zhang Xuegang said, "The economic cooperation in the "Joint Statement" has many bright spots, which not only meet the needs of both parties, but also have the possibility and significance of realization."

　　Xu Ningning said that the "Joint Statement" fully foreshadows the prospects for economic cooperation between the two sides.

　　It is mentioned in the "Joint Statement" that the "Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement" will come into effect on January 1, 2022, to jointly and effectively implement the agreement; the effective implementation of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement and its "Upgrading Protocol" "Future Work" The remaining content of the plan will strive to build a more inclusive, modern, comprehensive and mutually beneficial China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.

"This indicates that the two sides will further promote cooperation by opening up the market." Xu Ningning said.

　　It is mentioned in the "Joint Statement" to speed up the implementation of the "China-ASEAN "One Belt and One Road" Initiative and the "ASEAN Interconnection Master Plan 2025" Joint Statement", to carry out mutually beneficial and high-quality cooperation, to encourage the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, etc. Financial institutions provide relevant support to achieve high standards, people's livelihood, and sustainable goals.

　　In this regard, Xu Ningning pointed out that this means that the two sides will further promote cooperation through interconnection.

Zhang Xuegang also said that the integration of the "Belt and Road" and ASEAN interconnectivity is a highlight in the "Joint Statement."

　　As mentioned in the "Joint Statement", it is discussed to discuss the connection between the "ASEAN Digital Master Plan 2025" and the "China-ASEAN Initiative on Establishing a Digital Economy Partnership" and its action plans, and strengthen the development of digital economy, smart cities, artificial intelligence, and e-commerce. , Big data, 5G applications, digital transformation, network and data security and other fields to cooperate to welcome the fourth industrial revolution.

Establish a closer scientific and technological innovation partnership, connect the two parties' respective innovative development strategies, and cultivate new drivers of cooperation.

　　Xu Ningning said that this means that the two sides will further use innovative cooperation to seize new development opportunities.

Zhang Xuegang pointed out that the China-ASEAN Science and Technology Innovation Partnership is a new formulation, and the promotion of economic and new business cooperation around the science and technology innovation partnership is also one of the highlights.

　　"China and ASEAN are two dynamic emerging markets in the world. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) will be formally implemented next year. ASEAN is the advocate and core, and China is an active promoter and supporter. These two The market, together with four other partners, forms the world’s largest integrated market, which will help further deepen the economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN. At the same time, trade and investment within the region will also have new growth momentum. The connection and cooperation between the supply chain and the value chain will be closer." Zhang Jianping said.

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