Chinese vice premier calls for building higher-standard China-ASEAN FTA

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends and addresses the opening ceremony of the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 17, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]

NANNING, Sept. 17 -- The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) 3.0 Upgrade Protocol, once in effect, will inject enduring impetus into regional economic development, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said on Thursday, urging efforts to build a higher-standard CAFTA.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while addressing the opening ceremony of the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Nanning, capital city of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Ding said that all sides should comprehensively improve opening up in the region, explore ways to develop more robust cooperation frameworks and institutionalized arrangements, deepen cooperation in standards and technical regulations, and move faster toward an integrated regional market that is open, inclusive and rules-based.

On upgrading cooperation in trade and investment, he said China and ASEAN member states should demonstrate confidence and determination in jointly tackling challenges in international trade and economy, and work together to safeguard stable and smooth industrial and supply chains in this region and beyond.

Regarding deepening cooperation in emerging areas, he called on all sides to work together to advance the development of digital economy in the region, deepen cooperation in scenario-based applications in areas including AI, and remove trade barriers to environmental goods and services.

He encouraged all sides to make connectivity more convenient and efficient, promote the construction of infrastructure such as railways, highways, ports and airports, remove choke points in cross-border logistics, and pursue high-level development of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

Vice President of Myanmar U Nyo Saw, Standing Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Gia Tuc, Deputy Prime Minister of Laos Saleumxay Kommasith, and Secretary-General of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn also addressed the event.

Ding also held meetings separately with the leaders of Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos on Wednesday afternoon.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, who is in China to attend the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 16, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Vice President of Myanmar U Nyo Saw, who is in China to attend the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 16, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Vietnam's Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc, who is in China to attend the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 16, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]