Jakarta (VNA) – Two-way trade between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China is on track to exceed 1 trillion USD in 2025, according to an Indonesian diplomat.
ASEAN is China’s largest regional trading partner, with close to 1 trillion USD, Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun said, hoping the figure to surpass 1 trillion USD by the end of the year.
As reported by the Indonesian daily online English-language newspaper Jakarta Globe, Djauhari’s statement came not long after ASEAN upgraded its trade accord with China.
This new version of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area grants greater inclusivity for small enterprises, a major boon for Southeast Asia, as businesses of this size have been the backbone of its economy.
ASEAN’s export-import activities with China have been gaining speed over the past decades. In 2024, bilateral trade amounted to nearly 7 trillion CNY (approximately 989.9 billion USD), the Chinese customs data showed. The figures only reached approximately 870 billion CNY in 2004./.
China–Laos Railway helps boost ASEAN–China trade
Cargo volumes handled via the China-Laos Railway reached a record high of 4.506 million tonnes between January and October, up 12.8% year-on-year, China Media Group (CMG) has reported.