China's ambassador to Singapore, Cao Zhongming, called for elevated economic cooperation with ASEAN, focusing on innovation, green energy, and market openness. Speaking Tuesday at the Asia New Vision Forum in Singapore, Cao emphasized the need for regional resilience in the face of global uncertainties, including supply chain realignments, geopolitical tensions, and rising trade protectionism.
The call for enhanced economic ties between China and ASEAN underscores the region's growing importance as a counterweight to global disruptions and trade protectionism, potentially impacting global trade flows and investment strategies.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) need to enhance their economic collaboration in areas such as innovation, green energy, and market openness to bolster regional resilience amidst global uncertainties, according to China's ambassador to Singapore. Ambassador Cao Zhongming delivered these remarks on Tuesday at the Asia New Vision Forum 2026 in Singapore. He highlighted a changing global environment characterized by supply chain shifts, geopolitical tensions, and increasing trade protectionism.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Beijing earlier in July, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn advocated for expanded free trade agreements and stronger ties with China to maximize regional economic integration. Kao urged the expansion of both the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). China and ASEAN are celebrating 35 years of dialogue relations and the 5th anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Protocol was signed in October 2025 to boost high-level collaboration. Both entities are also part of the RCEP, the world's largest free trade agreement, which includes 15 Asia-Pacific nations. Kao expressed anticipation for the signing of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) by the end of the year, which aims to double Southeast Asia's digital economy to $2 trillion by 2030. He emphasized that economies will become increasingly interdependent and cooperation must be maximized.
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