Beijing, September 23 (Xinhua) — Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated on the 23rd that China is willing to deepen connectivity with all parties, including ASEAN countries, and work together to promote regional integration and economic globalization, so that the dividends of open cooperation can benefit the people more.
At the regular press conference on the same day, a reporter asked: We have noticed that the total number of freight trains running along the China Laos Railway has exceeded 60000 recently, and the freight volume has achieved double-digit growth for three consecutive years. It is commented that the China Laos Railway has become the “golden channel” connecting China and ASEAN countries. In recent years, China ASEAN cooperation has continuously pressed the “acceleration button” and accelerated. What further comments does the spokesperson have on the development of cooperation between China and ASEAN countries?
Guo Jiakun said that the China Laos Railway is a model for China and ASEAN to jointly build the “the Belt and Road” and jointly promote regional economic integration, and has witnessed the surging momentum of China and ASEAN countries’ two-way travel. In recent years, pragmatic cooperation between China and ASEAN countries in various fields has steadily advanced, with fruitful results. In 2024, the total trade value between China and ASEAN reached nearly 1 trillion US dollars, and the two sides have been each other’s largest trading partners for five consecutive years. As of July 2025, the cumulative amount of two-way investment has exceeded 450 billion US dollars. From 2024 to 2025, both sides will jointly hold a series of activities called the “China ASEAN Cultural Exchange Year”, which will effectively enhance personnel exchanges and people to people exchanges. Both sides are also working together to create new highlights of cooperation in digital economy, artificial intelligence, new energy, and other areas, promoting the improvement of regional development to a new level. The 22nd China ASEAN Expo was successfully held not long ago, with nearly 70 heavyweight new products launched, fully demonstrating the unlimited potential of China and ASEAN countries to seize new opportunities for development and open up new spaces for cooperation.
The more complex the international situation becomes, the more we need to firmly anchor the direction of cooperation and implement the concept of win-win. We are willing to deepen connectivity with all parties, including ASEAN countries, and work together to promote regional integration and economic globalization, so that the dividends of open cooperation can benefit the people more, “said Guo Jiakun.