ASEAN and China Must Make Trade Work, Says SM Lee in Guangxi

Why It Matters

Sustaining ASEAN‑China trade is critical for regional growth and supply‑chain stability as geopolitical tensions push countries to rethink links between trade, security and resilience; scalable logistics hubs like Guangxi could be pivotal in keeping commerce flowing. Strengthened cooperation would reduce vulnerability for SMEs and essential goods, while providing alternative routing that mitigates broader geopolitical risks.

Summary

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged China and ASEAN to sustain and deepen trade ties despite rising security-driven trade restrictions, saying partnerships must be shaped to deliver mutual economic and human benefits. Speaking in Guangxi, a key gateway to Southeast Asia, Lee highlighted the need to make trade 'win-win' amid global shocks from Middle East conflict to US tariffs. The report spotlights Guangxi’s role—bordering ASEAN and running the China‑Singapore International Logistics Park—as a logistics and perishables hub that boosts cross‑border e‑commerce, trade financing and fruit trade between China and Southeast Asia. Local operators say expanding the park and integrating technology can lower costs for SMEs, diversify routes and strengthen regional supply‑chain resilience.

Original Description

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said even as global trade becomes increasingly mixed up with security, resilience and rivalry considerations, China and ASEAN must find a way to make it work. He was speaking to Guangxi Party Secretary Chen Gang during his five-day visit to China. Guangxi is the only Chinese region sharing a land and maritime border with Southeast Asia. ASEAN has been Guangxi's leading trading partner for 26 years. Trade with Singapore alone exceeded US$1.9 billion last year. Deborah Wong reports from Nanning, Guangxi.