french.china.org.cn
China-ASEAN Trade Surges 9.7% in First Eight Months of 2025
China-ASEAN trade reached a record high of 4.93 trillion yuan ($694 billion) in the first eight months of 2025, a 9.7% year-on-year increase, driven by strong agricultural and manufacturing cooperation, according to China's General Administration of Customs (GAC).
- How has the manufacturing sector contributed to the overall growth in bilateral trade between China and ASEAN?
- Closer bilateral cooperation in manufacturing significantly boosted trade in related goods. Chinese exports of machine tools and auto parts to ASEAN surged by 56.1% and 22% year-on-year, respectively, while imports of computer components from ASEAN jumped by 47.4%. This highlights the increasing integration of the two economies in the manufacturing sector.
- What were the key drivers of the significant growth in China-ASEAN trade during the first eight months of 2025?
- The robust growth was fueled by deepened cooperation in both agricultural and manufacturing sectors. Agricultural imports and exports between China and ASEAN reached 290.6 billion yuan, a 9.7% year-on-year increase, comprising 20.1% of China's total agricultural trade volume. Strong growth was also seen in manufactured goods, comprising over 90% of bilateral trade.
- What are the future prospects for China-ASEAN trade in light of the completed negotiations on the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) version 3.0?
- With the conclusion of CAFTA version 3.0 negotiations, further expansion of cooperation between China and ASEAN is expected. This suggests that the already robust trade relationship will likely experience even greater growth in the coming years, building on the strong foundation established in 2024, when trade reached nearly 7 trillion yuan.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a positive outlook on the growth of trade between China and ASEAN, highlighting the strong cooperation in agriculture and manufacturing sectors. The focus on positive statistics and the quote from the spokesperson of the General Administration of Customs (GAC) expressing optimism about future growth could be considered a framing bias. However, the article also includes specific figures, allowing readers to form their own conclusions.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and descriptive, focusing on factual data and official statements. There is no overtly loaded language or emotional appeals.
Bias by Omission
The article primarily focuses on the positive aspects of trade growth. While it mentions the completion of negotiations on the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area version 3.0, it lacks details about potential challenges or downsides to this increased trade. Omission of potential negative impacts, such as increased competition for certain industries or environmental concerns related to increased production, could be considered a bias by omission.
Sustainable Development Goals
The robust growth in trade between China and ASEAN, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing sectors, directly contributes to economic growth and job creation in both regions. Increased exports of machinery and auto parts from China to ASEAN, and imports of computer components from ASEAN to China, all point towards expanding economic activity and employment opportunities. The continuous growth in trade volume over the years further strengthens this positive impact.