Trade between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is demonstrating growing momentum, reflected in the increase in Guangxi imports from ASEAN in the first seven months of the current year, reaching 62.84 billion yuan (US$9.4 billion), which is 19% higher compared to the same period last year.
This trend is part of a broader expansion of cooperation between China and ASEAN. Among the main import categories, there is a noticeable increase in electromechanical products by 23.8% and metal ores and concentrates by 3.4%.
Overall, ties between China and ASEAN are deepening, with trade serving as a key driver for broader interaction in areas such as investment, infrastructure, people-to-people exchanges, and regional supply chains. Both sides have been each other's largest trading partners for several consecutive years, and bilateral trade exceeded $1 trillion for the first time in 2025.
The current year marks the fifth anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and ASEAN. Officials from China and ASEAN member states gathered in Beijing on Tuesday to mark this important milestone. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn stated at the event that the partnership has demonstrated its value over the past five years, bringing tangible benefits to over 2 billion people and contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
From establishing dialogue relations in 1991 to elevating ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2021, China and ASEAN have developed close and multifaceted relations. Destarata Mustafa, Political Affairs Advisor at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, noted China's significant progress in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles, and renewable energy, where China possesses strong capabilities. He expressed hope for expanding cooperation with China in these fields.
Vietnam's Ambassador to China, Pham Thanh Binh, whose country is currently chairing the ASEAN Committee in Beijing, reported that bilateral trade grew by 25.6% year-on-year in the first eight months of 2026, exceeding $862 billion. He emphasized that these figures testify to the depth of ties between the parties and their shared development potential, calling for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to continue benefiting businesses and people.
The upcoming China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Nanning, Guangxi, will be another platform for such cooperation. This year's expo will feature a range of new offerings, reflecting the growing emphasis on technology, bilateral demand, and business participation.
For the first time, exhibition zones dedicated to the future and growth of scientific and technological companies will be established, showcasing cutting-edge products and recently launched innovations. A new zone will also be created focusing on the needs of ASEAN countries, shifting the focus from what Chinese companies can offer to what ASEAN markets are seeking, including technologies and applications.
Another new format will allow leading companies to bring their small and medium-sized enterprises operating up and down the supply chains to the expo, giving specialized and innovative firms greater visibility in international markets. AI will be another key feature of this year's expo. For the first time, a sector presenting various AI hardware and software products, as well as demonstrating AI applications in areas such as finance and cross-border financial services, will be organized at the event.
It is expected that over 400 new products, including the Tianzhu-1 satellite, and more than 100 new technologies will debut at the event. The expo will also hold a special session for the first time, showcasing Thai goods to the Chinese market, as well as an AI partnership matchmaking event between China and ASEAN and a high-level dialogue on coordinated development within the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. These new initiatives underscore the shift towards making trade and business the core of the expo, companies the main participants, and practical application the key feature.