Amidst U.S. Tariff Pressure, Meetings with ASEAN Senior Officials to Explore Enhanced Cooperation

Ahead of the signing of FTA 'Version 3.0', meetings held with leadership of Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam

Han Zheng, Vice Premier of China (right), and U.N. Myint, Prime Minister of Myanmar (left) [Xinhua Yonhap News photo. Reproduction and database prohibited]

Chinese leadership has strengthened communication with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and affirmed mutual cooperation intentions.

This move is interpreted as China's attempt to increase engagement with related countries as it approaches the signing of the ASEAN-member free trade agreement (FTA) 'Version 3.0' by the end of this year, amidst U.S. tariff pressure on China.

According to China's official Xinhua News Agency on the 16th, Han Zheng, Vice Premier of China, met successively with the leaders of Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam at the '22nd China-ASEAN Expo' and the 'China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit' held in Nanning, Guangxi Province.

In a meeting with U.N. Myint, Prime Minister of Myanmar, Vice Premier Han stated, "We hope (Myanmar) will step up efforts to combat cross-border crime and safeguard the safety of Chinese personnel, institutions, and regions within Myanmar."

Prime Minister U.N. Myint expressed support for the Global Governance Initiative proposed by China and pledged to deepen cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as well as reiterated support for the 'One China' principle.

He added, "We are willing to jointly combat cross-border crime and promote the building of a community of shared future between Myanmar and China."

On the same day, Vice Premier Han also met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Aun Pornmoniroth. Referencing Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Cambodia in April, Han emphasized his willingness to accelerate the implementation of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state.

He further stressed, "We are willing to accelerate the construction of the 'Industrial Development Corridor' and the 'Fisheries and Agricultural Products Corridor' to contribute to the modernization of both countries."

The Industrial Development Corridor and the Fisheries and Agricultural Products Corridor are projects for technological cooperation and trade expansion being pursued by the two countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Aun Pornmoniroth responded by saying, "The solid friendship between the two countries is unbreakable," and that "Cambodia considers China its most trustworthy friend."

Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister (right), and Sun Chanthol, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister (right) [Xinhua Yonhap News photo. Reproduction and database prohibited]

On the same day in Beijing, Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC and Foreign Minister of China, met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol and expressed the intention to create tangible results for the 'Industrial Development Corridor' and the 'Fisheries and Rice Corridor' plans.

Vice Premier Han also met with Lao Deputy Prime Minister Bounthong Chittamatone on the same day and expressed his desire to deepen friendly relations. Deputy Prime Minister Bounthong stated that "bilateral relations are at their best in history" and expressed support for the 'One China' principle.

Additionally, in a meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Son, Vice Premier Han confirmed the intention to deepen reciprocal cooperation and accelerate the building of a community of shared future.

Meanwhile, China's Ministry of Commerce recently announced that it would finalize the official signing of the protocol related to the upgrade negotiations for the ASEAN-China FTA 'Version 3.0' within the year.

The China-ASEAN FTA 'Version 3.0', for which substantial negotiations were completed in October last year, includes revised and newly established provisions and customs procedures covering new areas such as the digital economy, green economy, supply chain interconnectivity, and consumer protection.

According to Reuters, China's exports to ASEAN reached $57.1 billion last month, a sharp increase of 22.5% compared to the previous year.

Reuters reported that "ASEAN has emerged as China's largest export destination," and that this helped offset the 33.1% decrease in exports to the U.S., which stood at $31.6 billion during the same period. Yonhap News