Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 23 (Reporters Yuan Rui and Huang Yang) Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said 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 more people.

At the regular press conference that day, a reporter asked: We have noticed that the total number of freight trains operating on the China-Laos Railway has exceeded 60,000 recently, and freight volume has achieved double-digit growth for three consecutive years. Comments believe that the China-Laos Railway has become a "golden channel" connecting China and ASEAN countries. In recent years, China-ASEAN cooperation has continuously pressed the "accelerator button" and accelerated. Does the spokesperson have any further comments on the cooperation and development between China and ASEAN countries?

Guo Jiakun said that the China-Laos Railway is a model for China and ASEAN to jointly build the "Belt and Road" and jointly promote regional economic integration. It has witnessed the surging momentum of China and ASEAN countries in both directions. In recent years, practical cooperation in various fields between China and ASEAN countries has been steadily advancing and has achieved fruitful results. In 2024, the total trade value between China and ASEAN will be nearly US$1 trillion, and the two sides have been each other's largest trading partners for five consecutive years. As of July 2025, the cumulative two-way investment volume has exceeded US$450 billion. From 2024 to 2025, the two sides will jointly organize a series of activities of the "China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges" to effectively enhance personnel exchanges and people-to-people bonds. The two sides also worked together to create new highlights in cooperation in digital economy, artificial intelligence, new energy and other areas, and promote regional development to improve quality and innovation. The 22nd China-ASEAN Expo was successfully held not long ago, with nearly 70 blockbuster new products being launched, fully demonstrating the unlimited potential of China and ASEAN countries to seize new development opportunities and open up new space for cooperation.

"The more complex the international situation becomes, the more we must firmly anchor the general 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 more people." Guo Jiakun said. (over)