Neighbors building a shared future together

The Chinese leader's selection of Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia for visits after the Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries underscores Beijing's emphasis on fostering cooperation with Southeast Asian countries. This engagement aligns with a new era of neighborhood diplomacy, characterized by a more pragmatic and comprehensive approach. The focus on strengthening ties with neighboring countries is expanding the scope of cooperation between China and Southeast Asian countries.

Both sides recognize the importance of political cooperation in strengthening and further developing relations, particularly through regular high-level meetings. In essence, cooperation is being strengthened on the foundation of steadily growing political trust between China and individual Southeast Asian countries. The realm of practical cooperation is also widening. Key areas include trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity and so on within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Current geopolitical shifts and the imposition of tariffs by major powers are driving Southeast Asian countries to enhance cooperation with China in order to diversify markets and mitigate risks. Furthermore, collaboration with China is seen by Southeast Asian businesses as an opportunity to adjust business models, improve corporate governance, and meet the rising demands of the Chinese market, while capitalizing on China's increased efforts to attract foreign investment.