Yunnan-ASEAN trade expands steadily

Yunnan province has sustained strong foreign trade growth thanks in large part to deepening cooperation with member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a dynamic that underscores the strength of China-ASEAN economic ties despite mounting global trade protectionism, said experts.

According to Kunming Customs, ASEAN has remained Yunnan's largest trading partner for 20 consecutive years. In 2024, trade between Yunnan and ASEAN reached 109.32 billion yuan ($15.1 billion) while in the first quarter of this year alone, bilateral trade totaled 23.96 billion yuan.

As China's gateway to South and Southeast Asia, Yunnan has seen increasingly close economic and trade cooperation with ASEAN in recent years. "The province's growing foreign trade potential continues to inject strong momentum into regional economic integration," said Kunming Customs.