From supply chains and innovative foods to education and tourism opportunities, China and ASEAN countries are building closer connections across the region.
During an interview with CGTN in April 2025 at the fifth China International Consumer Products Expo in south China's Hainan Province, Kajtiti Wiwatwanont, consul-general of Thailand in Guangzhou, China, noted that Thailand has seen greater supply-chain integration with China as a pathway to deeper economic cooperation, while its innovations in food and wellness products showcase the growing links between local industries and consumers.
The partnership goes beyond business. Muhammad Sallehuddin Bin Mohd Dilif, education counsellor at the Malaysian Embassy in China, also said that Malaysians are being encouraged to explore opportunities in China, while Chinese tourists and students are welcomed in Malaysia. As people, businesses and ideas move more freely across borders, China and ASEAN are turning geographic proximity into deeper economic ties and people-to-people connections.