Officials pose for a photo at the 15th anniversary of ASEAN - China Strategic Partnership (Photo: VNA)Jakarta (VNA) – A ceremony to mark the 15th anniversary of ASEAN - ChinaStrategic Partnership was held at the ASEAN Secretariat headquarters in Jakarta,Indonesia, on July 12.
Addressing the event, ASEAN chief Lim Jock Hoi highlighted the partnership between ASEAN and China in politics, economics, trade and culture over the past15 years.
Currently, China is the largest trade partner of ASEAN and helps the groupingdevelop smart cities, Lim said.
On the occasion, a photo exhibition commemorating the 15th anniversary of ASEAN - ChinaStrategic Partnership opened. Themed “Living in Harmony”, the event bringsvivid images on the land and people of China and ASEAN member countries to visitors.
China, the first country signing the strategic partnership with ASEAN, is thebiggest trade partner of the grouping, while ASEAN is the third largest partnerof China.
Trade volume between the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN) and China hit a record high in 2017, according to the ChineseMinistry of Commerce.
Bilateral trade totalled 514.8 billion USD last year, up 13.8 percent year onyear. China's exports to ASEAN countries reached 279.1 billion USD in 2017, up 9percent year on year, while imports grew 20 percent year-on-year to stand at235.7 billion USD.
ASEAN – the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia,Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA
VNA
