China hopes for major ASEAN ties boost
China DailyChina is willing to vigorously improve the level of economic and trade cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and build a closer China-ASEAN community with shared interests, said a senior official during the opening ceremony of the 19th China-ASEAN Expo on Friday in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Chinese Vice-Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is willing to increase imports of quality products from ASEAN countries, especially agricultural goods, and promote deep integration of industrial, supply and value chains between the two sides. In addition, China will promote integration between the building of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Hainan Free Trade Port and cooperation with ASEAN. President Xi Jinping made five proposals during the event addressing developing future relations between China and ASEAN, including building a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home together. "The theme of the expo this year reflects that China and ASEAN hope to seize significant opportunities brought by the RCEP, and the two sides are willing to achieve new development through cooperation," said Xu Ningning, executive president of the China-ASEAN Business Council.