Vientiane summits to focus on ASEAN connectivity and resilience

Editor's note: Yu Hong is a senior research fellow of the East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Against the backdrop of changes in the global geopolitical landscape and complex regional situations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries are aware of the need to maintain the central role of the bloc and strengthen their internal unity. Only by promoting internal solidarity and cooperation can ASEAN continue to play its central role in resolving regional and international issues and build an interconnected ASEAN community.

ASEAN has demonstrated resilience and proactive adaptability, maintaining economic growth and continuing to play an important role in regional supply chains. It is planning to formulate a Post-2025 Vision, focusing on narrowing the gap in internal economic development, implementing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and building a more inclusive and coordinated ASEAN community.

The 44th and 45th ASEAN summits and related summits will be held in Vientiane, Laos, from October 8 to 11. There will be more than 20 meetings attended by ASEAN heads of state and government, dialogue partners, external partner countries, and representatives of regional and international organizations from more than 30 countries and entities. The theme of the meetings is "ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience."

This is the most important series of ASEAN summits in 2024, where the leaders of the member states will make decisions on accelerating building the ASEAN community, deepening the cooperative relationship between ASEAN and its partners, and regional and international issues of common concern.

The summits are also expected to verify the implementation of the road map for Timor-Leste becoming a full member of ASEAN. In the past, the member states agreed to assist Timor-Leste to meet the criteria set out in the road map to facilitate its accession.

The theme reflects the challenges and opportunities faced by the region and the summits will take stock of the progress on regional connectivity.

Connectivity is the foundation for building a united, strong and resilient ASEAN community. The agenda should support narrowing the development gaps among ASEAN countries, and regions and sub-regions within the countries, so that no country is left behind and all benefit from the common development of ASEAN.

Laos, which assumed the rotating presidency of ASEAN for the third time in 2024, has an opportunity to enhance its role and status in the regional and international arenas, and also promote its tourism, culture and traditional institutions. Moreover, hosting the 44th and 45th summits will enable it to promote its foreign policy agenda, as well as economic, trade and investment cooperation with other countries around the world.

China is a key partner of ASEAN. They have established comprehensive and robust ties and the bilateral collaboration areas are wide-ranging, covering trade, investment, regional connectivity and much more.

Expanding from traditional fields to digital and green emerging fields, China-ASEAN cooperation is deepening and upgrading. Electric vehicles have become one of the most important emerging areas of cooperation. ASEAN is one of the world's fastest-growing markets for new energy vehicles (NEVs), and an important market for China's NEV exports and overseas investment.

China and ASEAN have been each other's largest trading partners for four consecutive years, since ASEAN replaced the European Union as China's largest trading partner in 2020. Mutual investment has flourished, and industrial and supply chains have become deeply integrated.

In 2023, bilateral trade between ASEAN and China crossed $910 billion, accounting for 15.2 percent of the total value of China's foreign trade. From 2013 to 2023, their trade grew at an average annual rate of 7.5 percent. According to China Customs data, in the first eight months of this year, bilateral trade reached 4.5 trillion yuan ($641.2 billion), a year-on-year increase of 10 percent.

Infrastructure connectivity continues to be a central part of China-ASEAN relations. The Belt and Road Initiative is helping to implement the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, which focuses on five strategic areas: sustainable infrastructure, digital innovation, seamless logistics, regulatory excellence, and people's mobility.

Many high-profile infrastructure projects have been built and put into operation recently, such as the China-Laos Railway, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway. 

Infrastructure connectivity contributes to the Lao government's vision of transforming Laos from a landlocked country into a land-linked nation. The China-Laos Railway has facilitated both cargo and passenger transport, domestically as well as internationally. 

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on Twitter to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)