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ASEAN vows to deepen comprehensive strategic partnership with China: Secretary-General

Since elevating bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2021, ASEAN and China have seen their trade surge, cementing their status as each other's largest trading partners, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn.

Kao Kim Hourn, ASEAN Secretary-General speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Photo: Xinhua)
Kao Kim Hourn, ASEAN Secretary-General speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Photo: Xinhua)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is committed to deepening its comprehensive strategic partnership with China and upholding multilateralism, the bloc's Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn has said.

During a recent interview granted to Xinhua, Kao said that since elevating bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2021, ASEAN and China have seen their trade surge, cementing their status as each other's largest trading partners.

He depicted the Version 3.0 ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (FTA) - with negotiations substantially concluded - as a pivotal driver for their cooperation in digital economy, green industries, blue economy and streamlined customs protocols.

Kao emphasised that ASEAN expects the ASEAN-China FTA 3.0. to be completed within this year, bringing enormous economic potential to both sides.

"We will bring more tariffs down to zero in many cases and then expand to all areas. So that would be good to make sure that ASEAN is on track to truly become a single market in the future," he said.

He also expressed ASEAN's resolve to uphold free trade amid rising global protectionism./.

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