Economic cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is set to deepen despite bloc members advancing trade deals with the United States, Beijing’s ambassador to Asean has said.
At a forum in Indonesia’s Jakarta on Tuesday, Wang Qing urged both sides to remain committed to shared economic success and to oppose external interference, underscoring the importance of ties amid growing protectionism and unilateralism.
Wang delivered a speech at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference: Southeast Asia 2026, marking his first public address just three weeks after assuming the role.
“We must firmly support free trade and promote an inclusive form of economic globalisation that delivers benefits to all … Development should not be a zero-sum competition, but a process of joint progress and shared prosperity,” he said.
“We must uphold multilateralism and work to strengthen an international order grounded in international law.”
In an interview on the sidelines of the forum, Wang also said China remained confident that US trade agreements with countries in the 11-member bloc would not have a negative influence on China-Asean cooperation.
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