ASEAN chief highlights value, competitiveness as key to popularity of Chinese goods

ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn has attributed the growing popularity of Chinese products in Southeast Asia to their value for money, describing the trend as ultimately "the people's choice."

In an interview with China Media Group released Friday, Kao was asked about "China cool" -- a phrase he used to describe the rising appeal of Chinese brands and products across the region.

"There are many factors. I mean, first, of course, China has been one of the key countries producing films and dramas. The movie industry, sometimes we overlook. There are many Chinese movies, dramas have been welcomed by people, you know, particularly in the media, television, broadcasting industry. They know this quite well then. It's not just Western or Indian films and dramas or movies. But China is one of the countries that have been producing a lot of movies. And this, of course, over time, people watch, they love what they see," said Kao.

Turning to consumer goods, Kao pointed to the automotive sector as an example of how Chinese products have already established a presence in ASEAN markets.

"Chinese products today are already in the market in ASEAN for some time already. So we talk about the automotive industry, or talk about EVs, for example, we go to ASEAN member states, you see this. I was in Singapore recently. Someone picked me up using Zeekr, I wasn't in the house. On the street, there were so many BYDs, of course, EVs. They're there, but of course, as they are, it's a free competition and this global automobile industry, but at the end of the day, it's the people's choice. If they believe that they get the best deal, that's what they're going to invest and that what has happened right now," the ASEAN chief said.

Kao's remarks came as Chinese electric-vehicle brands continue to gain ground in Southeast Asia. In Thailand, electric vehicles accounted for 27 percent of new-car sales in 2025, with Chinese brands making up 88 percent of EVs sold. In Singapore, BYD captured 25.2 percent of all new car registrations in H1 2026, registering 6,828 vehicles and remaining the country's overall top-selling car brand. In earlier market periods, BYD accounted for over 40 percent of newly registered electric vehicles specifically.

ASEAN chief highlights value, competitiveness as key to popularity of Chinese goods

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The international cooperation launch ceremony for the China-Germany co-produced animated series "Panda and Gummy Bear" was held in Berlin, Germany, on Friday.

The product is made to foster cultural exchange among youth and children, use animation as a bridge to build a platform for China-Germany cultural dialogue and deepen mutual learning among civilizations.

The event was hosted by China International Television Corporation and Germany's Gummy Bear International.   During the ceremony, the Chinese and German partners exchanged cooperation tokens. The two sides pledged they will integrate their resources in content production, brand operation, and overseas channels, engaging in in-depth collaboration on the series' overseas licensing and market promotion.   These efforts are expected to accelerate the entry of the series into the European market and help it reach audiences in more countries and regions.   As the latest production of China Media Group's "Panda He He" international co-production animated series, "Panda and Gummy Bear" was jointly created by China Central Television Animation Group and Germany's Gummy Bear International.   Its launch on YouTube and overseas licensing promotion mark an important step for the CMG's original animation IP to enter the European market and expand its overseas broadcasting footprint.

International release launched for China-Germany animated co-production "Panda and Gummy Bear"