Chinese province seeks closer Asean region ties
Chinese province seeks closer Asean region ties
Bilateral trade between China’s Anhui province and the 10 member states of Asean reached $2.05 billion in the first four months – up 24 percent compared with the same period last year, according to figures from the Chinese province.
Zheng Mingwu, the chief information director of Anhui, said this when speaking at the launching ceremony of the “Asean 10 Nations Mainstream Media and China’s Central Leading Overseas-targeted Media: Touring Anhui” media junket in Hefei, the capital of China’s Anhui province.
He said trade will only increase as China continues to push its chief economic-connectivity strategy.
“With the vigorous implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, the relationship between Anhui and Asean has become increasingly co-beneficial”, he said.
Trade between Asean and Anhui at $5.95 billion last year, an increase of 18 percent from 2016. There are 91 Chinese enterprises from Anhui operating in Asean countries, with a total investment of $390 million.
Foreign direct investment from Asean investor countries totalled $720 million last year, an increase of 7.5 percent from 2016, according to the figures provided.
Vithit Powattanasuk, director of Information and Public Relations, Asean-China Center, which is an inter-organisation co-founded by 10 Asean member states and China, said, with their geographical proximity and cultural affinity, Asean and China are “good neighbours and partners”.
