Observation of the Investment and Trade Fair: RCEP Plus Free Trade Zones Add New Momentum to China ASEAN Economic and Trade Cooperation

Xiamen, September 9 (Xinhua) -- At the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade held in Xiamen, the "institutional overlap" between the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the China ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 version has become one of the hot topics. Attendees believe that Asia Pacific regional cooperation is no longer solely based on tariff reductions to dilute costs, but on the accumulation of origin, digital economy and green economy rules, and supply chain interconnectivity to jointly reshape industrial chain division of labor.

In October 2025, China and ASEAN signed the 3.0 version upgrade protocol of the Free Trade Area, which for the first time included digital economy, green economy, and supply chain connectivity in the institutionalized cooperation framework.

At the 6th RCEP Economic and Trade Cooperation Matchmaking and Exchange Event held on the 8th, Shen Xiaokai, the second level inspector of the International Economic and Trade Relations Department of the Ministry of Commerce of China, pointed out that the China ASEAN Free Trade Area and RCEP have established a mechanism arrangement to maintain the security and stability of the Asia Pacific region's industrial and supply chains in terms of cumulative origin, investment access, and trade facilitation, and have become an important engine for promoting regional economic integration.

Data shows that in the first eight months of this year, the total trade value between China and ASEAN reached 5.95 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 20.6%, and ASEAN continued to remain China's largest trading partner. Lin Jian, Vice President of the Institute of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce of China, predicted at the China International Fair for Trade and Development that the trade volume between China and ASEAN is expected to exceed 8 trillion yuan this year.

The 3.0 version of the China ASEAN Free Trade Area and RCEP are not substitutes, but rather overlapping and complementary. The synergy between the two will release huge institutional dividends. ”Lin Jian said.

The automotive industry is an intuitive sample for observing the dividends of rules. Li Xiaoxiao, Deputy General Manager of Beijing Automotive International Development Co., Ltd., introduced that regional cumulative rules of origin have opened up space for the cross-border division of labor model of "Chinese technology+ASEAN manufacturing". For example, producing batteries in Indonesia, distributing power in Malaysia, and assembling in Thailand can all be included in the RCEP origin ratio. ”

Zhao Jinping, Vice President of the China Association for Trade in Services, proposed the dual wheel drive of "digitalization and green low-carbon" at the China International Fair for Trade in Services. He believes that the favorable conditions for achieving dual wheel drive of digital and green industries come from the dividends generated by regional cooperation, including institutional dividends, openness dividends, industrial development dividends, etc; The dual wheel drive of data and green is also a requirement for the industrial development of various countries in the region.

The investment side is also stabilizing due to the improvement of rules. Dan Sin Lunwen, Vice Minister of Myanmar's Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, introduced that Myanmar attaches great importance to the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" initiative, the construction of the China Myanmar Economic Corridor and RCEP cooperation, and takes corresponding measures to improve business convenience. From March 2026, Myanmar will accept RMB as the capital settlement currency for investment projects.

As of August 2026, a total of 599 Chinese investment companies have been operating in Myanmar, with a total investment of approximately 18 billion US dollars, "said Dan Xin Lun Wen. China is a global leader in new energy technology and welcomes Chinese companies to invest in new energy vehicles, digital economy and other fields in Myanmar.

Song Yaoming, Vice President of the National Japan Economic Association, pointed out that RCEP is the deep foundation and core confidence that supports Asia Pacific economic and trade cooperation and stabilizes development. It is also the institutional shield for Asia Pacific countries to resist risks and adhere to win-win cooperation in the current turbulent environment. We choose openness over closure, cooperation over confrontation