Smart strategy for stability

The annual China-ASEAN Expo is one of the very successful measures established to boost the China-ASEAN economic relationship, in particular to realize the China-ASEAN free trade area. It is widely believed that there is vast untapped potential for China-ASEAN trade and investment, and the Expo will help expose that potential to both China and ASEAN. I believe the rapidly growing mutual trade and investment between China and ASEAN in recent years owe much to initiatives and efforts like the Expo, which help forge more balanced trade between China and ASEAN.

Vietnam has been very actively participating in the Expo in recent years, usually sending the biggest business delegation among the 10 ASEAN countries, mainly due to our geographical proximity, but also because of the great new opportunities that the Expo helps create.

The global economy is going through a structural change. The recent global economic chaos is a sign of that change. There will likely be many more subtle changes taking place in the years to come. ASEAN and China should promote cooperation to help the region adapt to the changes, not only by looking at short term gain and growth, but also to longer term sustainable development.