China-ASEAN trade dips in Jan-May period

BEIJING -- Bilateral trade between China and ASEAN (the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations) has boomed during the past 25 years, but it has declined this year because of the lackluster global economy, a senior official said Tuesday.

China-ASEAN trade rose to $472.16 billion in 2015 from $7.96 billion in 1991, with an annual growth rate of 18.5 percent, Vice Commerce Minister Gao Yan said at a news conference.

During the Jan-May period, however, bilateral trade fell 7.1 percent year on year to $173.57 billion.

The two sides are trying their best to "get bilateral-trade growth back on track as soon as possible", Gao said.

China is ASEAN's biggest trading partner, while ASEAN is China's third biggest.

By the end of May, the two-way investment had exceeded $160 billion, with ASEAN remaining a major destination for Chinese companies.

When asked whether trade ties between China and the Philippines will be affected following the South China Sea arbitration award, Gao said the two countries enjoy "relatively stable" economic and trade relations, while dismissing claims that Chinese people have boycotted foreign products, especially those made in the Philippines.

"China is willing to develop mutually beneficial trade and economic ties with the Philippines in various forms," she added.

The 13th China-ASEAN Expo will be held in Nanning, capital of South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, from Sept 11-14.

The expo, co-sponsored by China and the 10 ASEAN countries, has been held for 12 consecutive years since 2004, serving as an international economic and trade event for the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.

With the theme of "Building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Forging an Even-Closer China-ASEAN Community of Common Destiny," the 13th expo will advance mutual investment between China and ASEAN in the key areas of industrial capacity cooperation and equipment manufacturing, Gao said.