Zhang Jianping, director-general of the China Center for Regional Economic Cooperation:

The economic and trade ties between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have become increasingly closer over the years, based on mutually recognized rules and arrangements, such as the China-ASEAN free trade agreement and its upgrades, the FTAs between China and individual ASEAN countries, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership signed last year.

The two sides have even greater cooperation potentials in areas such as infrastructure, energy and resources, agriculture, manufacturing and modern services industry.

China and ASEAN will become the largest and most energetic emerging markets in the Asia Pacific region, and the integration of the regional economy will be accelerated driven by the strengthening economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN.