Wang, who was attending the forum with foreign ministers from
several countries said, "the two sides are actively promoting
the negotiation of the free trade area version 3.0, and pushing
for the full implementation of the RCEP."
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is the
world's largest trade bloc backed by China. It took effect on
Jan. 1, 2022 and groups 15 Asia-Pacific economies including
Australia and Japan, as well as all 10 member-states of ASEAN.
The RCEP, seen as an alternative to the U.S.-led Comprehensive
and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP),
covers nearly a third of the world's population.
"We will continue to deepen the comprehensive strategic
partnership with ASEAN," Wang said.
He said that would create "a more powerful strategic environment
for both side's development and revitalization as well as for
the long-term peace and stability of the region."
Earlier at a China customs press briefing, spokesperson Lv
Daliang said: "China and ASEAN are each other's largest trading
partners, with a solid foundation of cooperation and huge
development potential, with the deepening of regional economic
integration, the continuous expansion of cooperation fields, and
the continuous smooth trade exchanges, bilateral trade is
expected to continue to maintain a good trend."
According to customs data on Thursday, the value of China-ASEAN
two-way trade hit $447.3 billion in January-June, down 1.5%
year-on-year.
(Reporting Liz Lee and Ellen Zhang; Writing by Bernard Orr;
Editing by Clarence Fernandez & Simon Cameron-Moore)
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