China stands ready to work with ASEAN countries to advance regional integration and economic globalization, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.
Guo made the statement in response to a media query about the China-Laos Railway, which as facilitated China's trade and cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges with ASEAN countries.
"The China-Laos Railway is a model of Belt and Road cooperation and joint promotion of regional economic integration between China and the ASEAN, and it has witnessed the surging dynamics of both sides in supporting each other. In recent years, practical cooperation between China and ASEAN countries in various fields has steadily advanced and achieved fruitful results," said Guo.
"In 2024, the total trade volume between China and the ASEAN approached one trillion U.S. dollars, and the two sides have been each other's largest trading partner for five consecutive years. By July 2025, the two-way investment between the two sides had exceeded 450 billion U.S. dollars. From 2024 to 2025, the two sides jointly held a series of activities for the China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges, conducive to facilitating personnel exchanges and strengthening people-to-people bonds," he said.
"The two sides also work together to create new highlights in cooperation in digital economy, artificial intelligence, and new energy, elevating development in the region to new heights. The 22nd China-ASEAN Expo was successfully held not long ago, at which nearly 70 major new products were released, fully demonstrating the unlimited potential of China and ASEAN countries in seizing new development opportunities and opening up new areas of cooperation," said Guo.
"The more complex the international situation is, the more necessary it is to firmly anchor at the general direction of cooperation and put the concept of win-win cooperation in practice. We are willing to deepen connectivity with all parties, including ASEAN countries, and join hands to promote regional integration and economic globalization, so that the dividends of opening up and cooperation can benefit people of all countries more extensively," he said.
China ready to advance regional integration with ASEAN: spokesman
