During the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo and the Business and Investment Summit between China and ASEAN, a survey conducted by CGTN among global respondents revealed that 90.9% believe that the continuous holding of CAEXPO demonstrates China's firm commitment to promoting high-level openness.
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and ASEAN, and respondents are generally optimistic that mutually beneficial cooperation between China and ASEAN countries will continue to reach new heights.
This year's expo attracted about 3,300 companies and is expected to host around 33,000 buyers. According to the survey, 89.5% of respondents noted that the expo is not only an important window for showcasing the achievements of China-ASEAN cooperation but also a key platform for facilitating business exchange, developing industrial matching, and sharing regional development opportunities.
Notably, Timor-Leste participated in the event for the first time as a full member of ASEAN and co-organizer of the expo. The presence of all 11 ASEAN members at the event, for the first time since ASEAN's expansion, led 89.6% of respondents to consider it an expression of confidence in the potential of China's vast market.
The 'AI Marketplace' was presented for the first time at the expo, bringing together over 500 products from more than 70 companies, including rehabilitation and care robots, smartwatches, fitness trackers, and domestic robots. About 84.8% of respondents believe that the accelerated adoption of artificial intelligence could become a new driver of growth for trade and economic cooperation between China and ASEAN, as well as for industrial modernization.
In recent years, mutually beneficial cooperation between China and ASEAN has continued to deepen, with economic and trade ties reaching new heights. In 2025, bilateral trade between China and ASEAN exceeded $1 trillion for the first time. China has been ASEAN's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, while ASEAN has been China's largest trading partner for six consecutive years.
In the survey, 90.2% of respondents stated that China's unwavering commitment to expanding high-level openness and its constant utilization of the advantages of a vast market create more opportunities for the development of ASEAN countries; 87.4% noted that increasingly close economic and trade ties have become the cornerstone of stable relations between China and ASEAN.
Following the official signing of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Zone Update Protocol 3.0, cooperation between the parties has expanded into new areas, including digital and green development, standards, and industrial supply chains. About 87.7% of respondents believe that strengthening coordination in industry and supply chains will help enhance regional economic stability and resilience.
The long-awaited Pinlu channel was completed and opened for navigation before the expo, creating a major waterway connecting China's southwestern hinterland with ASEAN countries. This allowed for a reduction in transport distances by 560 kilometers and a decrease in logistics costs by 18% down to 30%. In the survey, 87.6% of respondents stated that multimodal transport, including river-sea and rail-water modes, when effectively integrated with cross-border industrial cooperation and supply chains, will contribute to the further development of regional trade and investment.
Furthermore, 84.5% of respondents noted that deeper free trade cooperation between China and ASEAN will give a greater impetus to openness, cooperation, and stable growth in the global economy; 88.5% stated the importance of building a more cohesive China-ASEAN community with a common future to promote regional peace, stability, and common prosperity.
The survey was published on CGTN platforms in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian, with 3,950 users voting and sharing their opinions within 24 hours.