The two-way trade between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries reached 331.05 billion U.S. dollars, up 8.1 percent from a year earlier in the first four months of 2025, data from China's General Administration of Customs showed.
The figure, comprising nearly 17 percent of China's total foreign trade, indicated that the highly complementary economies of the two parties form a cornerstone of regional cooperation.
The growth was primarily driven by China's exports to ASEAN countries.
In the January-April period, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia were China's top three trading partners in ASEAN.
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership - or RCEP, also helped boost trade between China and ASEAN.
In addition, the successful conclusion of negotiations on Version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) further marks a significant stride toward regional economic integration.
ASEAN remains China's No. 1 trading parter in 2025
Thailand has temporarily closed more than 1,000 schools in border areas following a new round of armed clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops along their shared border.
The Thai Ministry of Education ordered the suspension of classes on Friday in seven provinces bordering Cambodia, affecting a total of 1,060 schools, to ensure the safety of students and teachers.
Buriram Province is among the areas most affected by the renewed fighting, with more than 100 schools shut down. At local shelters, displaced residents, including children and teenagers, have sought refuge as fighting continues.
One girl said she had stayed in the shelter for 11-12 days already. "I moved here because of the clashes between Thailand and Cambodia," she said, adding that she could hear very loud gunfire at her home.
She said school won't be open until the clashes end, and she misses her classmates very much.
A teenage boy in the shelter expressed the same emotions.
"It's been 13 days since I moved here. I heard gunfires at home and I was so scared that I moved to the shelter. I want to return to school to study and see my friends," he said.
A displaced woman recalled her time in a shelter when border clashes between the two countries broke out earlier this year.
"I stayed in the shelter for a week when the last clashes broke out. This time I don't know how long I need to stay here before I can return home," she said.
Border clashes between the two sides reignited on Dec 7, less than two months after the two sides signed a joint peace declaration, with both sides trading the blame for instigating the attacks.
Thailand closes over 1,000 schools near border amid armed clashes with Cambodia
