The 10th Anniversary Forum on the Full Establishment of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area took place in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Nov 28, with domestic and overseas guests discussing issues related to the opening and integration of the China-ASEAN market in both online and offline venues.

Online attendees, including ASEAN Secretary General Dato Lim Jock Hoi, as well as the economic and trade ministers from 10 ASEAN countries like Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, Vietnam's Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh, as well as Bruneian Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Finance and Economy Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, all spoke highly of the relationship between China and ASEAN, expressing hope that more opportunities and prosperity can be brought to China and ASEAN countries through further cooperation.

Lan Tianli, acting chairman of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, noted that Guangxi is not only an active participant in the China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation, but also a beneficiary.

Lan expressed his hope that the forum can contribute to heralding a new decade of development for China-ASEAN cooperation.

He added that Guangxi is willing to make full use of its advantages in geographic location and platform construction in helping foster a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the main driver, with domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other, while teaming with ASEAN countries in industrial cooperation, covering areas spanning the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, technological innovation, port logistics, digital economy, as well as electronic commerce.

Assistant Minister of Commerce Li Chenggang said that the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area has become one of the most mature, dynamic, and productive free trade arrangements in Asia. 

The bilateral trade volume between China and ASEAN has grown from $292.8 billion in 2010 to $641.5 billion in 2019.

China has retained its position as ASEAN's largest trading partner since 2009 and ASEAN became China's largest trading partner for the first time this year.