China and ASEAN, hit by US tariffs, sign upgraded free trade pact

China and the ASEAN bloc of Southeast Asian nations signed an upgrade to their free trade agreement on Tuesday, with leaders hailing the deal which spans the digital and green economy, and other new industries.

China pitches itself as alternative to US protectionism after signing expanded ASEAN free trade pact

China has signed an expanded free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Premier Li Qiang has promoted economic ties with Beijing as an alternative to U.S. protectionist policies.

China signs expanded ASEAN free trade pact as alternate to US protectionism

The free trade area covers a combined market of more than 2 billion people, lowers tariffs on goods, and boosts flows of services and investment.View on euronews

Pentagon chief meets China, India defence ministers at Southeast Asian summit

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke on Friday with counterparts from China and India, beginning a series of face-to-face meetings at an ASEAN defence summit in Malaysia, as Washington seeks to boost regional security ties.
The Diplomat

ASEAN, China Upgrade Free Trade Agreement

The announcement came after China’s Premier Li Qiang called on his Asian counterparts to “uphold free trade and the multilateral trading system.”

US slams Beijing’s Scarborough Shoal claim, urges ASEAN to stand firm against China’s ‘destabilising’ actions

The US has condemned China’s claim over Scarborough Shoal, urging ASEAN nations to stand firm against Beijing’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. Read here
CNA

ASEAN-China free trade upgrade should be ratified swiftly: PM Wong

Beyond trade, cooperation between ASEAN and China can also be stepped up in areas such as connectivity and the green economy, says Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in constructive talks with China and India

NEW DELHI, India — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke to Chinese and Indian officials at the ASEAN defense summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday, vowing to continue strong American engagement in the region. In a post on X, he said he met with the Chinese National Defense Minister Adm. Dong Jun.

Will China-Iran ties help foster a 'new Asia'? Envoy sees rebalance in region

China and Iran should strengthen "wise and balanced" cooperation to jointly counter modern challenges and shape a new world against unilateralism and hegemony, according to Tehran's top envoy in Beijing.
CNA

China, ASEAN ink upgraded free trade pact covering digital, green economies, supply chain connectivity

It’s the second upgrade of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) that was first inked in 2002 - making it then China’s first free trade agreement and ASEAN’s first with a major external partner. It then came into effect in 2010, with negotiations for the first upgrade starting in September 2014 and coming into force since 2019.
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