In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

China remains Asean’s largest trading partner

<p>People walk out of the venue of the 18th China-Asean Expo in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Sept. 11, 2021. <em>(Xinhua/Lu Boan)</em></p>

People walk out of the venue of the 18th China-Asean Expo in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Sept. 11, 2021. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

BEIJING – China has remained the largest trading partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) for 13 consecutive years, a commerce official said Monday.

Trade between China and the Asean reached USD544.9 billion in the first seven months of this year. It is up 13.1 percent year on year, accounting for 15 percent of the country's total foreign trade, said Li Fei, assistant commerce minister of China, at a press conference.

As of the end of July, the cumulative two-way investment exceeded USD340 billion, Li said.

Meanwhile, Chinese companies have been making steady progress in contracting infrastructure projects in Asean countries, with a cumulative turnover of over USD380 billion by the end of July.

China will roll out measures, including professional online and offline trade matching and investment coordination services, to facilitate cooperation with Asean amid the upcoming 19th China-Asean Expo, Li said.

Preferential measures in areas including customs clearance, transportation, purchasing, and duty-free services will be provided for commodities to be exhibited from Asean countries.

The 19th China-Asean Expo will take place from Sept. 16 to 19 in Nanning, the capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Asean includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. (Xinhua)

Comments