China-Asean Trade Surges Amid New Waterway Connectivity

Data for the first seven months of 2026 indicates that trade volume between China and Asean reached $744.41 billion. This figure represents a 24.7 percent year-on-year increase. During this period, trade with Asean accounted for 21.8 percent of China's total foreign trade. The opening of a major river-to-sea canal has established a new, more efficient trade shortcut to Southeast Asia, facilitating this growth.