At the 22nd China-ASEAN Exhibition held in Guangzhou (referred to as the "Eastern Expo"), traders and political representatives from many ASEAN countries are seeking to strengthen cooperation with China.In the context of the continued impact of unilateralism and protectionism on the global supply chain, China and ASEAN enterprises are committed to deepening cooperation to ensure supply chain security and inject new vitality into regional economic integration.

"The tariff policy of the current US government is reshaping the global trade pattern." Rapolo Hutabarat, head of the agricultural industry department of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association, told the Global Times reporter, "I hope to expand the trade cooperation between Indonesian palm oil and China. China has huge market potential and a stable supply chain, and is our second largest overseas market besides India." According to him, under the influence of US tariffs, Indonesian palm oil enterprises will continue to expand into new export markets such as Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East.

Hutabarat's views were echoed by exhibitors from other ASEAN countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. "Both agricultural food and clothing textiles need a more stable supply chain." Chadapa Chavanan, the relevant person in charge of the Thai Trade Office, said in an interview with the Global Times reporter, "The uncertainty brought by tariffs makes us more eager to link diversified markets, and the cooperation opportunities of each country are crucial, especially China. We don't want to miss any exchange activities held here." According to her introduction, this year's Thai trade groups have a richer variety of products, covering food and drinks, clothing and jewelry, household goods and other fields.

The Vice President of the Malaysian Manufacturers Federation, Wu Vinking, also sees the prospects for cooperation with China as well. In an interview with the Global Times, he said, "We are doubling efforts to use Guangxi's logistics advantages and Malaysia's hub role in ASEAN to jointly build a more resilient supply chain system to help both companies reduce operating costs and improve cooperation efficiency."In April, the cold chain boutique route linking the port of Guangdong in Malaysia and the port of Guangxi Bay in northern China was officially opened.

It is worth noting that the negotiations on China-ASEAN Free Trade Area version 3.0 have been fully completed. China-ASEAN Free Trade Area version 3.0 includes nine major areas, including digital economy, green economy, supply chain interconnection, standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures, covering the core issues of current global industrial chain transformation and sustainable economic development. A number of experts interviewed by Global Times reporters said that this "milestone" achievement emphasizes the common commitment of China and ASEAN to enhance supply chain resilience in the context of rapid changes in the global economy and increasing uncertainty.

¡°With the help of China-ASEAN Free Trade Zone 3.0, Indonesia and China will further expand the field of cooperation,¡± said Mefda, head of the Indonesian Ministry of Commerce¡¯s Primary Product Export Development Division, in an interview with the Global Times, ¡°Through a stable and resilient supply chain, Indonesian high-quality agricultural products, seafood and other products can also enter the Chinese market better and faster.¡±

In an interview with the media during the Eastern Expo, Thailand¡¯s Deputy Ministry of Commerce, Akasha West Wawala said that China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 will bring continued expansion of trade and investment within the region and boost regional competitiveness, especially in the digital and low-carbon economies, while alsoining the resilience of supply chains and production chains and promoting its deep integration, enabling ASEAN and China to better cope with global challenges.