China, ASEAN strengthen economic ties

BEIJING, China (Global Times) — Economic ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China agreed on Monday to strengthen trade and economic relations between both sides, and synergize the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.

The economic ministers met at the 18th AEM (ASEAN Economic Ministers)-MOFCOM (China’s Ministry of Commerce) Consultations, which was co-chaired by Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit and Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen.

In a joint statement, the ministers reaffirmed ASEAN and China’s strong commitment to strengthen the robust trade and economic relations between both sides.

The ministers particularly welcomed the increase in total merchandise trade between ASEAN and China, which, according to preliminary ASEAN data, reached 479.4 billion US dollars in 2018, accounting for 17.1 percent of ASEAN’s total merchandise trade.