An international freight train bound for Lao capital Vientiane pulls out of Yanhe Station of China-Laos Railway in Yuxi City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Aug. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Asked to comment on the future development of China-ASEAN cooperation, as the China-Laos Railway has handled more than 60,000 freight trains with three years of double-digit growth, with some calling it a "golden corridor" linking China and ASEAN countries, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday that the railway serves as a model of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation and regional economic integration, showcasing the strong momentum of joint efforts between China and ASEAN.

The spokesperson said that the more complex the international environment becomes, the more important it is to stay focused on the direction of cooperation and put the win-win concept into practice. China is willing to work with ASEAN and other partners to deepen connectivity, advance regional integration and economic globalization, and ensure that the benefits of openness and cooperation could reach more people, the spokesperson noted.

In recent years, practical cooperation across various fields between China and ASEAN countries has made steady progress, achieving fruitful results, the spokesperson said. In 2024, bilateral trade reached nearly $1 trillion, and the two sides have remained each other's largest trading partner for five consecutive years, said the spokesperson.

By July 2025, the two-way investment had exceeded $450 billion. From 2024 to 2025, the two sides are jointly holding a "China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges," boosting cultural and social ties. They have also been working together in emerging fields such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence and new energy, to drive regional development toward higher quality, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that the successful 22nd China-ASEAN Expo, where nearly 70 new products made their debut, which fully demonstrated the countries' ability to seize new development opportunities and unlock the vast potential for cooperation.
Global Times