ASEAN SEC-GEN HIGHLIGHTS KEY AREAS TO BOOST TIES WITH CHINA

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn has outlined three key focus areas to enhance ASEAN-China relations through strengthened connectivity in infrastructure, digital transformation, supply chains, and people-to-people exchanges.

In his keynote address at the Jakarta Forum on ASEAN-China Relations on Friday, he highlighted the critical role of sustainable infrastructure in promoting regional connectivity and trade.

“Infrastructure serves as vital arteries linking our region,” he said, pointing out the potential for new opportunities in trade, investment, education and tourism.

Kao noted that ASEAN is currently updating its Initial Rolling Priority Pipeline of Infrastructure Projects to meet connectivity needs and views collaboration with China through the Belt and Road Initiative as a huge opportunity.

Since 2009, China has been ASEAN’s largest trading partner, with trade increasing from US$178 billion to US$696.7 billion in 2023.

Chinese investments in ASEAN have also grown significantly, rising from US$1.2 billion to US$17.3 billion over the past two decades, he said.

Regarding digital transformation, Kao described it as a defining trend for both regions, projecting that the ASEAN digital economy could reach US$1 trillion by 2030.

“With a successful Digital Economy Framework Agreement, we could double that to US$2 trillion,” he said, stressing the need to upgrade the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement to prioritise the digital economy.

He also emphasised the importance of strengthening supply chains for economic resilience and expressed optimism about the early signing of the ASEAN-China FTA 3.0 upgrade to enhance supply chain connectivity.

Kao believes that initiatives like the Chinese Southeast Asia Tourism website, which aims to attract Chinese travellers to ASEAN, need support to foster people-to-people connections through cultural exchanges and tourism.

Chinese tourist arrivals in ASEAN have not yet returned to the pre-pandemic high of 32.2 million visitors in 2019.

However, there has been a notable recovery, with arrivals growing to 10.6 million in 2023, up from only 1.1 million in 2022, he added.

The Jakarta Forum on ASEAN-China Relations is hosted by the Chinese Mission to ASEAN and the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to ASEAN, in partnership with the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI).

-- BERNAMA