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ASEAN, China launch talks to upgrade ACFTA

14 Nov '22
1 min read
Pic: ASEAN
Pic: ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China officially launched negotiations for the upgrade of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) at the 25th ASEAN-China Summit at Phnom Penh recently. The upgrade negotiations are aimed at ensuring that ACFTA further deepens and broadens ASEAN-China economic ties and to post-pandemic economic recovery.

The ACFTA is ASEAN’s oldest FTA among its dialogue partners.

The upgraded ACFTA will cover digital economy, green economy, supply chain connectivity, competition, consumer protection and micro, small and medium enterprises, an official release said.

China is ASEAN’s largest trading partner and the second largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI).  In 2021, the total merchandise trade between ASEAN and China reached $669 billion, registering a year-on-year increase of 29 per cent despite the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the same period, FDI flows from China to ASEAN amounted to $13.6 billion, almost double the $7 billion in 2020, and equivalent to 7.8 per cent of total FDI flows to ASEAN.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)

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