2024 Outlook:Unlocking Cooperation Potential

Artists from Myanmar perform at the City of Charm exhibition area of the 20th China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning,Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,on September 18,2023. (VCG)

The year 2023 marked the 14th consecutive year China has been the largest trading partner of ASEAN and the third consecutive year both sides have been each other’s largest trading partner.With the full entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)and the launch of negotiations on China-ASEAN FTA 3.0,economic and trade exchanges between the two sides have been moving ahead at an accelerated pace with bilateral cooperation enjoying promising prospects and huge potential.

Over the past year,the leaders of the Philippines,Cambodia,Singapore,Malaysia,Vietnam,and Indonesia visited China in succession,and Chinese President Xi Jinping made a state visit to Vietnam in December.Close communication between leaders of China and ASEAN member states has boosted confidence in a future of political peace and stability in the region,paving the way for deeper cooperation in various fields in the coming year.

As 2024 approaches,China Report ASEANinvited experts in different fields to review China-ASEAN cooperation over the past year,particularly in areas of macroeconomics,energy,science and technology,and environmental protection.These areas of cooperation are seemingly separate,but all align with a shared goal of green and sustainable development,which will remain an important theme for future cooperation.