China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 promotes shared benefits: secretary-general

The Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA) aims to unlock new opportunities in the digital and green economies while enhancing two-way trade and investment potential, said ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn.

The 27th China-ASEAN Summit, held last October in Vientiane, Laos, announced the conclusion of the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN FTA negotiations. This milestone introduced, for the first time, chapters on connectivity in the digital economy, green economy, and supply chains, setting the highest standards among all their economic and trade agreements. A joint statement was also issued during the summit. During an interview with China Media Group (CMG), Kao outlined the development blueprint for China-ASEAN FTA Version 3.0, emphasizing the emergence of exciting new opportunities for investment and trade in non-traditional sectors.

"I think it certainly will go into all kind of areas that were not traditionally, of course. Hopefully we should be working together more on e-commerce, for example. That's the kind of area we should be looking at because the digital economy is growing. I'm sure for China or certainly for ASEAN. At the moment, we are working together among 10 states to negotiate the digital economy agreement. So again, I think digital economy is important. We have to look at all other new areas, including the green, the blue economy sector is also growing. We simply have to look at what more can be done, particularly in the agriculture sector," Kao said.

Kao emphasized that bilateral economic and trade collaboration brings mutual benefits and fosters a win-win outcome for both sides.

"So, it's all the way about mutual interest, how we can take advantage of the competitive advantage that we have between ASEAN and China. The upgrade of FTA to 3.0 will make it more relevant, benefit the businesses on both sides. And that again will help to facilitate trade, reduce more trade barriers between both sides and, of course, modernize the way we do business between ASEAN and China," he said.

The construction of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area was completed in 2010, and Version 3.0 FTA negotiations began in November 2022.

ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 promotes shared benefits: secretary-general

A group of Japanese peace activists gathered outside the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Friday to protest the government's push for constitutional revision and the lifting of a ban on lethal weapons exports.

The Japanese government officially revised the "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology" and related implementation guidelines on April 21, allowing overseas sales of weapons, including those with lethal capabilities.

Kyodo News, a Japanese news agency, said the changes mark a significant shift in the country's defense policy, noting that it has long touted itself as a "peace-loving nation" under its war-renouncing Constitution since its defeat in World War II.

The protesters accused the Takaichi administration of lifting the export ban without sufficient debate or deliberation in the National Diet.

"Without full discussions in the National Diet, the government just arbitrarily decided on arms exports and made various excuses for it. Also, regarding the incident of intrusion into the Chinese embassy, the government has not issued an apology. Japan should be on friendly terms with neighboring countries, yet it engages in actions that incite confrontation. [Constitutional revision] is truly disturbing. Especially nowadays, the Liberal Democratic Party and Prime Minister Takaichi are pushing for arms exports in order to build a nation capable of waging war. This is absolutely unacceptable," one female protester said.

"As a matter of fact, it [lifting the ban on lethal weapons exports] was arbitrarily decided by the cabinet without any consideration of people's opinions. Revising the pacifist constitution will undoubtedly harm Japan's national interests. I sincerely hope that the Takaichi administration will stop this practice," a male protester said.

"Article 9 of Japan's constitution has gradually, to some extent, been distorted by various faits accomplis. While Japan is nominally a 'peaceful country,' this is not the case in reality," another female protester said.

Protesters rally in Tokyo against arms exports, constitutional revision