Upgraded China-ASEAN pact injecting impetus into global trade

KUALA LUMPUR — In a significant stride toward regional economic integration, China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have completed negotiations on an upgraded free trade agreement, doubling down on efforts to promote inclusive and sustainable growth.

The Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) comes at a critical moment and sends a clear and strong signal in support of free trade and open cooperation amid growing protectionism and trade fragmentation, analysts told Xinhua on the sidelines of the 2025 ASEAN Summit and related meetings.

The deal, a pivotal enabler for ASEAN and China's sustained growth and competitiveness, marks a shift "from traditional goods to the future economy", said Tan Kar Hing, deputy chairman of Malaysia's Center of Regional Strategic Studies.