China-ASEAN in numbers: Trade and Communication

[TaiShang]

China-ASEAN in numbers: Trade ties

CGTN
2018-09-11

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have had a long established, friendly relationship since a dialogue mechanism was established in 1991, and the two sides have witnessed increased benefits in a broad array of areas like trade and tourism.

In 2017, China-ASEAN trade volume reached 514.8 billion US dollars with a year-on-year increase of 13.8 percent. China exported 279.1 billion US dollars' worth of goods to ASEAN, up nine percent year on year, and imported goods worth 235.7 billion US dollars, an increase of 20 percent on an annual basis.

China's main export destinations are Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia, while its main import markets consist of Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand.

The trade volume between China and ASEAN has risen from 362.85 billion US dollars seven years ago to the current 514.8 billion US dollars, and the total two-way investment stands at nearly 200 billion US dollars.

Since 2009, China has been the largest trading partner of ASEAN. Meanwhile, ASEAN has also become China's third largest trading partner for seven consecutive years.

Singapore was top on the list of China's trading partners among ASEAN countries with its total foreign trade value up to 99.3 billion US dollars, followed closely by Vietnam with 93.8 million US dollars and Thailand with 73.6 million US dollars.

China is now Singapore's largest trading partner and source of tourists, and Singapore has become China's largest source of foreign capital and one of the largest offshore RMB clearing centers.

For many years, China has been Vietnam's largest trading partner and its second largest export market. Vietnam took up 21.6 percent of the proportion of bilateral trade between China and ASEAN countries in 2016. In order to achieve bilateral trade volume of 100 billion US dollars (about 680.9 billion yuan), the two sides have formulated moderately flexible policy mechanisms to spur cross-border trade.

The cooperation between China and ASEAN in infrastructure construction and connectivity is also developing fast.

By the end of May 2017, the total amount of infrastructure construction projects signed by Chinese enterprises in ASEAN countries had reached 296.27 billion US dollars. At present, a large number of roads, railways, ports, airports, bridges and electricity projects are being implemented.

In 2017, the commodity with the highest value among China's exports to Southeast Asia was "Electrical machinery and equipment", reaching 50.8 billion US dollars and accounting for 9.9 percent of China's total exports to Southeast Asia, followed by "Boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances" with their export value standing at 14.7 billion US dollars.

ASEAN is vigorously pushing ahead with infrastructure construction, and the demand for construction, transportation and power equipment is growing.

Aside from a booming trade, China has also maintained its position as ASEAN's largest source of foreign tourists since 2012, with 20.3 million Chinese tourists visiting ASEAN countries in 2016, up 6.4 percent from the previous year.

At present, China and ASEAN act as each other's largest overseas tourist destinations and source of tourists, with more than 2,700 flights a week between China and ASEAN countries.

Among them, Thailand attracts the most Chinese tourists with 8.8 million trips in 2016, followed by Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia, with 2.9 million, 2.7 million, 2.1 million respectively.

Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia are among the earliest destinations for outbound travel.

At the same time, China's appeal to ASEAN tourists is on the rise. Among China's top 15 inbound tourist markets, six are ASEAN countries.

South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region welcomes over three million inbound tourists annually on average, and nearly half are from ASEAN countries thanks to its geographical proximity to the 10-nation bloc.

***

https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d414e3145544d7a457a6333566d54/share_p.html

@Viva_Viet ， @powastick , @Nan Yang , @oprih , @UserUnknown2025 , @Mista , @rambro , @somsak

Some very nice (in fact, amazing) data.

 

[qwerrty]

boo. vietnam will be numba 1 in the region when tpp comes online. china will be on her knees begging the new lord to be junior member

 

[TaiShang]

boo. vietnam will be numba 1 in the region when tpp comes online. china will be on her knees begging the new lord to be junior member

Still Vietnam has a bright spot: They are China's largest trade partner in ASEAN. I think Vietnam never really believed in the TPP.

 

[qwerrty]

Still Vietnam has a bright spot: They are China's largest trade partner in ASEAN. I think Vietnam never really believed in the TPP.

our tpp extremists over here don't agree with you. china will be doomed

 

[Viva_Viet]

China-ASEAN in numbers: Trade ties

CGTN
2018-09-11

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have had a long established, friendly relationship since a dialogue mechanism was established in 1991, and the two sides have witnessed increased benefits in a broad array of areas like trade and tourism.

In 2017, China-ASEAN trade volume reached 514.8 billion US dollars with a year-on-year increase of 13.8 percent. China exported 279.1 billion US dollars' worth of goods to ASEAN, up nine percent year on year, and imported goods worth 235.7 billion US dollars, an increase of 20 percent on an annual basis.

China's main export destinations are Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia, while its main import markets consist of Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand.

The trade volume between China and ASEAN has risen from 362.85 billion US dollars seven years ago to the current 514.8 billion US dollars, and the total two-way investment stands at nearly 200 billion US dollars.

Since 2009, China has been the largest trading partner of ASEAN. Meanwhile, ASEAN has also become China's third largest trading partner for seven consecutive years.

Singapore was top on the list of China's trading partners among ASEAN countries with its total foreign trade value up to 99.3 billion US dollars, followed closely by Vietnam with 93.8 million US dollars and Thailand with 73.6 million US dollars.

China is now Singapore's largest trading partner and source of tourists, and Singapore has become China's largest source of foreign capital and one of the largest offshore RMB clearing centers.

For many years, China has been Vietnam's largest trading partner and its second largest export market. Vietnam took up 21.6 percent of the proportion of bilateral trade between China and ASEAN countries in 2016. In order to achieve bilateral trade volume of 100 billion US dollars (about 680.9 billion yuan), the two sides have formulated moderately flexible policy mechanisms to spur cross-border trade.

The cooperation between China and ASEAN in infrastructure construction and connectivity is also developing fast.

By the end of May 2017, the total amount of infrastructure construction projects signed by Chinese enterprises in ASEAN countries had reached 296.27 billion US dollars. At present, a large number of roads, railways, ports, airports, bridges and electricity projects are being implemented.

In 2017, the commodity with the highest value among China's exports to Southeast Asia was "Electrical machinery and equipment", reaching 50.8 billion US dollars and accounting for 9.9 percent of China's total exports to Southeast Asia, followed by "Boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances" with their export value standing at 14.7 billion US dollars.

ASEAN is vigorously pushing ahead with infrastructure construction, and the demand for construction, transportation and power equipment is growing.

Aside from a booming trade, China has also maintained its position as ASEAN's largest source of foreign tourists since 2012, with 20.3 million Chinese tourists visiting ASEAN countries in 2016, up 6.4 percent from the previous year.

At present, China and ASEAN act as each other's largest overseas tourist destinations and source of tourists, with more than 2,700 flights a week between China and ASEAN countries.

Among them, Thailand attracts the most Chinese tourists with 8.8 million trips in 2016, followed by Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia, with 2.9 million, 2.7 million, 2.1 million respectively.

Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia are among the earliest destinations for outbound travel.

At the same time, China's appeal to ASEAN tourists is on the rise. Among China's top 15 inbound tourist markets, six are ASEAN countries.

South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region welcomes over three million inbound tourists annually on average, and nearly half are from ASEAN countries thanks to its geographical proximity to the 10-nation bloc.

***

https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d414e3145544d7a457a6333566d54/share_p.html

@Viva_Viet ， @powastick , @Nan Yang , @oprih , @UserUnknown2025 , @Mista , @rambro , @somsak

Some very nice (in fact, amazing) data.

CN is under US sanction and dying, so I think u should keep focusing on how to survive under US's sanction first. ASEAN nations like Malays always can turn into CNese enemies when CN is in chaos. (MY just canceled many big CN projects, ID massared CNese in 1998, Myanmar drop bomb into CN lands etc)

 

[Viet]

boo. vietnam will be numba 1 in the region when tpp comes online. china will be on her knees begging the new lord to be junior member

No need to. China just needs to lift visa restriction for VN holidaymakers and opens labor markets for VN jobseekers. Forcing the people to run by foot over border crossings is a shame.

 

[TaiShang]

Bilateral trade benefits ASEAN more than China: Hun Sen

By CGTN's Wu Guoxiu
2018-09-12

Bilateral trade between China and ASEAN countries grow over 10 percent every year, said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on the sidelines of the 15th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

"According to our estimations, trade volume between China and ASEAN increased not less than 10 percent every year...My estimation is (it will) increase 10 to 25 percent every year, " the prime minister told CGTN.

In terms of the benefits, he observed, "ASEAN is benefiting more than China does, because many ASEAN products are exported to China, but China has fewer exported to ASEAN nations."

Attending his 11th CAEXPO, the prime minister said his participation is due to the partnership between Cambodia and China. Many Chinese are investing in Cambodia. A total of 1.3 million trips were made by Chinese to Cambodia last year, and the figure this year is expected to be around two million.

CGTN Photo

"Over the 60 years since China and Cambodia established diplomatic ties, I, as a Prime Minister, inherited the friendship the last generations of leaders built, and I feel honored to work with good friend China for a while. Currently, it's the most important phase, from good friends, good brothers, good neighbors, trusted friends to overall strategic partnership," said Hun Sen.

He also mentioned additional cooperation in the fields of investment, trade and tourism between the two countries, such as increasing exchanges among young people and offering scholarships to support Cambodian students' study in China.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d774e7751544d7a457a6333566d54/share_p.html

 

[hiseen]

CN is under US sanction and dying, so I think u should keep focusing on how to survive under US's sanction first. ASEAN nations like Malays always can turn into CNese enemies when CN is in chaos. (MY just canceled many big CN projects, ID massared CNese in 1998, Myanmar drop bomb into CN lands etc)

2023~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[TaiShang]

ASEAN eyes strong digital growth amid new industrial revolution

Source:Xinhua Published: 2018/9/14


The 2018 World Economic Forum on ASEAN concluded on Thursday, reaching consensus on tapping the fourth industrial revolution and accelerating digital growth, among other issues.

During the three-day meeting themed "ASEAN 4.0: Entrepreneurship and the Fourth Industrial Revolution," over 1,100 participants, including prime ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, the Indonesian president and the Myanmar state counsellor, focused their discussions on making full use of the revolution and coping with its potential negative impact, spurring economic growth through education, entrepreneurship and infrastructure investment.

Up to 60 official sessions were held, and pledges were made on Digital ASEAN, Partnerships against Malaria, the Grow Asia Forum, and many new initiatives.

Digital ASEAN, one of the World Economic Forum's flagship initiatives in Southeast Asia, held two workshops during the meeting, gathering 90 government ministers, business leaders and policy-makers to set the goals for the year ahead.

The initiative has five task forces which focus on harmonizing data policy and governance rules in ASEAN; upgrading broadband access, quality and speed; developing digital skills; improving cooperation for cybersecurity; and building a pan-regional e-payments ecosystem.

Each task force now has a clear roadmap of goals to be achieved in the coming 12 months.

The Vietnamese government built strong momentum for a "Flat ASEAN" by calling for abolition of international roaming charges imposed on ASEAN citizens when travelling within the region, and establishment of a regional information and communications technology university to train a skilled workforce for the fourth industrial revolution, as well as a cybersecurity information sharing and analysis center to ensure that all citizens and systems can be safely connected on the internet.

Many participants agreed that ASEAN should collaborate further to capitalize on the gains of rapid technological change and digital growth by achieving the free movement of talent, data, capital and education, across the borders of its 10 members.

They also agreed that inclusive internet access, education and cross-border collaboration are needed to propel Asia's digital market into the global economy.

Once internet penetration is achieved across the region, the next step is for owners of SMEs to learn how to move their business from offline to online.

Besides digital technology-related initiatives, the three-day meeting produced many other notable outcomes.

Young Global Leaders in ASEAN expressed a common goal of enhancing digital citizenship and online safety among children in the region.

They decided to work together on a strategic global movement to empower 8-12-year olds with comprehensive digital citizenship skills from the start of their digital lives and help them become informed and discerning users of digital media and technology.

Meanwhile, over 170 senior leaders and decision-makers in the agriculture industry gathered at the Grow Asia Forum 2018 and agreed on strategies for transforming agriculture and food systems in the region anchored on public-private policy dialogue and fourth industrial revolution technologies.

On Thursday, the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance pledged support for two new initiatives to accelerate the elimination of malaria and improve health outcomes in the Asia-Pacific.

On Wednesday, leaders of Mekong countries unanimously reiterated a vision of the vital waterway or economic "bloodline" and one that prioritizes complementarity over competition. The leaders of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar affirmed their commitment to shared prosperity and peace.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1119602.shtml

 

[TaiShang]

China-ASEAN e-commerce to expand

By Zheng Yiran | China Daily | Updated: 2018-09-14

A customer tries electronic payment in a supermarket in Manila, the Philippines. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The cross-border e-commerce trade volume between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries will increase by 50 percent in 2018, boosted by trade facilitation, according to an expert.

Zhao Ping, director of the international trade research department under the aegis of the Academy of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said that there is huge potential in the cross-border e-commerce trade between China and ASEAN.

"Products from China and ASEAN have strong complementarity. ASEAN countries have high demands toward high value-added industrial products from China. Computer, communication and consumer electronics products (3C products) make up the highest ratio of China's exports to ASEAN countries, with the second and third places taken by health and beauty products and fashion accessories.

"China mainly imports agricultural and high-quality specialty products from ASEAN, such as health products, latex pillows, milk powder, convenience foods, brewed drinks, snacks and rice," Zhao said.

According to a report by CCPIT Academy, investment in cross-border e-commerce trade between China and ASEAN has been active in recent years. For example, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd took over Lazada Group, one of the biggest e-commerce platforms in ASEAN, achieving absolute control over the company. China's second-largest e-commerce company JD joined hands with Thai company Central Group Co Ltd to set up a joint venture, JD Central, in order to offer e-commerce and fintech services.

Chinese companies' investment in ASEAN countries covers e-commerce, payments, logistics and mobile applications. The technology and channel advantages of Chinese companies can drive the development of related industries in Southeast Asia and promote the development of bilateral cross-border e-commerce.

However, the CCPIT Academy report showed that the level of cross-border e-commerce trade between China and ASEAN needs to improve. According to its survey, most of the enterprises interviewed think the development of cross-border e-commerce trade between China and ASEAN remains at an average level.

Only 24.39 percent of enterprises said development was relatively satisfactory, while 14.63 percent said it was poor. Currently, China is mainly developing cross-border e-commerce in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, while the business in the remaining ASEAN countries is in the early stages.

The survey also found that trade facilitation influences the development of cross-border e-commerce trade, and that high-level trade facilitation boosts the process in aspects such as customs clearance, logistics and facilitation infrastructure.

Meanwhile, constant improvement in the level of cross-border e-commerce development will raise requirements for trade facilitation, thus promoting its evolution. The improvement in the level of trade facilitation and cross-border e-commerce development are complementary.

Infrastructure construction is fundamental to the development of cross-border e-commerce. Of the enterprises interviewed, 22.22 percent said that warehouse costs were high in cross-border e-commerce trade between China and ASEAN, while 38.89 percent said logistics efficiency was low.

Well-developed logistics infrastructure can effectively reduce cross-border e-commerce operating costs and enhance the user experience of consumers, the report said.

In addition, weak financial bases and low take up of electronic payments limit the development of cross-border e-commerce. At present, the financial bases in most Southeast Asian countries are weak, and electronic payments are not widely used in the region. A total of 38.89 percent of the enterprises said that the electronic payment system for cross-border e-commerce trade between China and ASEAN was incomplete.

To solve these problems, CCPIT Academy suggested that infrastructure between China and ASEAN covering internet, logistics, e-commerce laws and regulations and the policy environment should be strengthened.

In addition, trade facilitation should be improved and a cooperation mechanism established.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201809/14/WS5b9b2561a31033b4f46560ad.html

@Viet , @Nan Yang , @powastick

 

[TaiShang]

Opinion: China and ASEAN to promote further cooperation under Belt and Road

CGTN's Asia Today
2018-09-16

The 15th China-ASEAN Expo has wrapped up on September 15 in the Chinese city of Nanning. The three-day event attracted more than a thousand people from 43 countries. Around 35 high-level forums were held during the expo.

The expo this year also attracted 114 companies from 19 countries along the "Belt and Road" countries. The organizer has set up the "Belt and Road" international exhibition area especially. The China-ASEAN Expo is becoming an important chance of deepening cooperation among the "Belt and Road" countries.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of China-ASEAN strategic partnership. Over the past 15 years, China-ASEAN cooperation has become one of the most successful and dynamic models in Asia-Pacific regional cooperation.

ASEAN is currently China's third largest trade partner, while China has been the bloc's largest trade partner for nine consecutive years.

Syed Saud Ahmed is a representative from Atiya Enterprises. Five years ago, he came to the China-ASEAN Expo and stated: "We have a good business this time. Our sales in China grew up three times in the last three times. That's why I came here again and again."

Expectations are high for more success. From commodity exchange to tech, to agriculture, and more. And multiple joint development plans are in the making. A high-tech industrial park proposed by Chinese and Indonesian companies with an investment projected at five billion US dollars. More than 500 national and international economic deals were reached over the CAEXPO.

Ms. Xu Qinhua, who is a professor of the School of International Studies of China's Renmin University, said the reason of the rapid growth of the trade volume between China and ASEAN is that China's "Belt and Road Initiative" docks with ASEAN countries' national development plan, such as ASEAN Interconnection Master Plan 2025, China-Vietnam "two corridors one circle," and Thailand 4.0.

She said China's "Belt and Road Initiative" and the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area can form a deep complementary. The BRI will find new ways to deepen economic cooperation and promote economic development, bringing new opportunities to the region.

The China-ASEAN free trade area was launched eight years ago. Last year, trade volume surpassed 500 billion US dollars, bilateral direct investment had reached more than 15 billion US dollars.

When talking about infrastructure, Ms. Xu gave an example: China Southern Power Grid connects neighboring countries through electricity, such as Vietnam, Myanmar, and Laos. As of the end of 2017, electricity trade totaled 51.65 billion kWh.

Besides infrastructure, China and ASEAN are also looking for digital cooperation. Ms. Xu thinks digital collaboration is very important for those ASEAN countries. She said China is a leading country in e-commerce in the world, and China can help ASEAN countries to build a network, such as the "Online Silk road." Xu also shares her personal experience. She said the Ali pay is very popular in ASEAN countries, such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia.

*Asia Today is a 30-minute daily news magazine program airing at 1100 GMT and 1900 BJT. Aiming to tell Asian stories from an Asian perspective, Asia Today provides news and in-depth coverage on various topics from across the continent. Asia Today also runs special series covering a wide range of issues of concern to people in Asia.

 

[Yingluck]

It will take time before the entire ASEAN pivoted to China and ditch the west.

Current generations of leaders are still trained in the west and mostly aligned to the west, unless we talk about Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar.

While the western trained elites wants to hold on to the white man masters, the cant change the coming tide.

 

[Viva_Viet]

It will take time before the entire ASEAN pivoted to China and ditch the west.

Current generations of leaders are still trained in the west and mostly aligned to the west, unless we talk about Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar.

While the western trained elites wants to hold on to the white man masters, the cant change the coming tide.

CN should thanks GOd that Trump refuse to join TPP to make VN rich. otherwhile, CN economy would collapse faster due to US only buy products from VN and other TPP nations.

SO, we r not so "friendly" to CN, Ehr ? its US who more "friendly" to CN when refusing to join TPP

 

[TaiShang]

China to support offshore RMB market development in ASEAN region

CGTN
2019-01-13

China will support countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to set up offshore renminbi markets as part of a string of measures to facilitate cross-border financial innovation.


ASEAN insurers are welcome to set up branches and do business in south China's Guangxi Region, which is expected to become a financial cooperation gateway to the region in about five years, according to a plan released Friday by the country's central bank and other 12 departments.

Guangxi adjoins the ASEAN region and has close cultural and commercial ties with the association's members.

The plan encourages banks in Guangxi to expand law-abiding business in ASEAN markets, and qualified overseas strategic investors to partner with Guangxi financial institutions in equity.

Support will be offered to build a bilateral spot commodity trading center and a logistics center, as well as a financial information database.

The government will roll out policies to help attract more financial professionals into Guangxi, the plan said.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d514e7767544f31457a6333566d54/share_p.html

 

[TaiShang]

China-ASEAN trade hits record high in 2018

Xinhua, March 14, 2019

Trucks queue up to convey goods at a container dock of the bonded port area in Qinzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, April 13, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Total volume of trade between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries hit a record high of 587.87 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, up 14.1 percent year on year, an official with the Ministry of Commerce said Wednesday.

China-ASEAN trade maintained a strong upward momentum last year, with two-way investments amounting to 205.71 billion U.S. dollars, said Yang Weiqun, deputy head of the Department of Asian Affairs, Ministry of Commerce.

The mutual investment stock has grown 22 times since 2004, Yang added when attending a senior officials meeting for the 16th China-ASEAN Expo, which is scheduled to be held from Sept. 20 to 23 in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The theme of this year's expo is "Building the Belt & Road, Realizing Our Vision for A Community of Shared Future," with Indonesia as the Country of Honor.

Yang said China hopes to take this chance to strengthen communication and cooperation with ASEAN countries.

Gustanto, Consul General of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Guangzhou, said the expo has made positive contributions to bilateral trade between Indonesia and China.

As the Country of Honor, Indonesia plans to bring more exhibitors and deepen bilateral economic and trade cooperation, he said.

Initiated in 2004, the expo is an important platform to promote trade and relations between China and the ASEAN.

@powastick , @Menthol , @rambro