Guangming.com (Reporter Jin Yuxi) On October 13, the State Council Information Office held a press conference to introduce the import and export situation in the first three quarters of 2025. At the meeting, Lu Daliang, spokesperson of the General Administration of Customs and director of the Statistics and Analysis Department, said that ASEAN is my country’s largest trading partner. Since China and ASEAN established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2021, the economic and trade cooperation between the two sides has become closer, and the trade scale has continuously exceeded 5 trillion yuan and 6 trillion yuan, reaching 6.99 trillion yuan last year, which is close to 7 trillion yuan. In the first three quarters of this year, my country's total import and export value to ASEAN was 5.57 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.6%, accounting for 16.6% of my country's total foreign trade value. ASEAN continues to maintain its status as my country's largest trading partner, and economic and trade relations with complementary advantages and mutual benefit and win-win continue to deepen.

From a consumer perspective, it enriches the consumption choices of both parties. ASEAN has been my country's largest trading partner of agricultural products for eight consecutive years. In the first three quarters of this year, my country's agricultural product imports from ASEAN increased by 15.3%, accounting for 19.1% of my country's total agricultural product import value. ASEAN is the second largest source of my country's agricultural product imports. Among them, the number of fruits entering the Chinese market through the "golden channel" of the China-Laos Railway increased by 37.8%. Domestic consumers can taste the "tropical flavor" faster and fresher. At the same time, ASEAN is also the largest market for my country's agricultural exports. In the first three quarters, my country's exports of citrus and lettuce to ASEAN have achieved rapid growth. ASEAN consumers can also choose more "Chinese tastes."

From a business perspective, it supports the industrial cooperation between the two parties. With the full entry into force of multilateral and bilateral free trade agreements between my country and ASEAN and ASEAN countries, the benefits of tariff concessions and trade facilitation policies continue to be released, the integration of industrial and supply chains in the region continues to deepen, and the space for industrial cooperation between my country and ASEAN continues to expand. In the first three quarters, my country's exports of textile machinery and textile raw materials to ASEAN increased by 28.2% and 13.4% respectively, and imported clothing increased by 9.3%; rubber imports from ASEAN increased by 40.7%, and exports of tires and other auto parts increased by 19.8%.

From the perspective of importers and exporters, the trade channels between the two sides are smoother. my country and ASEAN are connected by mountains and rivers. The joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative is deeply aligned with the "ASEAN Connectivity Master Plan 2025". A number of landmark projects such as the China-Laos Railway have been completed one after another. The three-dimensional interconnection network between the two sides has become more complete, providing strong support for deepening economic and trade cooperation. Looking at the first three quarters, my country's imports and exports to ASEAN through land transportation increased by 21%, and imports and exports through water transportation, air transportation, etc. also grew rapidly.

China-ASEAN relations have become the most successful and dynamic model of cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. At present, the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 negotiations have been fully completed, which will inject new momentum into the development of bilateral economic and trade relations and inject greater certainty into regional and global trade. The customs will continue to improve supervision efficiency and service levels, and push China-ASEAN bilateral economic and trade cooperation to a new level.