CHINA and Asean jointly announced in November last year to elevate their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and Asean’s close ties with China have effectively promoted the bloc’s economic development, said an Indonesian entrepreneur.

In an interview with Xinhua, General Chairman of the Indonesian Chinese Entrepreneur Association Abdul Alek Soelystio said the China-Asean comprehensive strategic partnership represents closer, higher-level and wider scope cooperation between the two sides.

In his perspective, China has effectively promoted Asean’s economic development through the Belt and Road Initiative, global cooperation on industrial chain and supply chain, as well as various favourable policies provided by the China-Asean Free Trade Area (FTA).

Speaking highly of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which took effect at the beginning of this year, he said RCEP is able to integrate funds, resources, professional technologies, and services, which helps form the complete circulation and ecosystem of regional economic cooperation.

 - Xinhua