Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China's practical cooperation with ASEAN countries in various fields has yielded fruitful results.

On September 23, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guo Jiakun, presided over a regular press conference. A reporter asked: Recently, the total number of freight trains running on the entire line of the China-Laos Railway has exceeded 60,000, and the freight volume has achieved double-digit growth for three consecutive years. It is believed that the China-Laos Railway has become a "golden gateway" connecting China and ASEAN countries. In recent years, China-ASEAN cooperation has continuously pressed the "acceleration button" and run with "acceleration". What further comments does the spokesperson have on the development of China's cooperation with ASEAN countries? Guo Jiakun stated that the China-Laos Railway is a model for jointly building the "Belt and Road" and promoting regional economic integration between China and ASEAN, witnessing the surging energy of bilateral interactions between China and ASEAN countries. In recent years, pragmatic cooperation in various fields between China and ASEAN countries has steadily progressed with fruitful results. By 2024, the total trade value between China and ASEAN will reach nearly 1 trillion US dollars, and the two sides have been each other's largest trading partners for five consecutive years. As of July 2025, the cumulative bilateral investment amount exceeded 450 billion US dollars. From 2024 to 2025, the two sides jointly held a series of activities for the "China-ASEAN Year of Cultural Exchange," which helped enhance people-to-people exchanges and mutual understanding. The two sides also joined hands to create new highlights in cooperation such as digital economy, artificial intelligence, and new energy, promoting the high-quality development of the region. The more complex the international situation is, the more we need to firmly anchor the direction of cooperation and put the concept of win-win cooperation into practice. 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 in all countries.