Remarkable achievements made in China-ASEAN cooperation: Chinese FM

VIENTIANE, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Remarkable achievements have been made in the cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee highlighted some of the achievements at the ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

China has been ASEAN's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, while ASEAN was China's biggest trading partner in the last four years, Wang noted, adding that two-way trade increased by 10.5 percent year-on-year in the first half of this year.

He said China's investment in ASEAN increased by 44.6 percent in 2023, and two-way investment accumulated to over 380 billion U.S. dollars.

Speaking of the recovery of people-to-people and cultural exchanges after the COVID-19 pandemic, Wang underscored that the number of direct flights between the two sides has exceeded 2,300 per week, nearly 70 percent of the pre-pandemic level.

He also highlighted enhanced connectivity, citing projects including the China-Laos Railway and the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, which helped promote the integration of industrial and supply chains of all parties.

In addition, Wang said ASEAN has attracted the most concentrated overseas investment from Chinese auto companies, and Chinese brands accounted for 67 percent of new energy vehicles sold in ASEAN.

Cooperation on clean energy has continued to expand, contributing to energy transition in the region, Wand added.