The 2026 ASEAN-China (Guangdong) Trade Promotion and Supply Chain Cooperation Mechanism Exchange Conference opened in Guangzhou on July 16, with Guangdong and ASEAN nations advancing plans to deepen economic ties through tech, green energy, and industrial collaboration, according to Newsgd and Asianews.
The conference, first held in Guangzhou last year, highlighted Guangdong’s role as a hub for manufacturing and technology, paired with ASEAN’s resource advantages, as officials from Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Thailand signed memorandums to expand cooperation. Bilateral trade hit 1.53 trillion yuan in 2025, a 5.8% annual rise, underscoring the region’s growing economic interdependence.
Key Sectors for Cooperation
Malaysia’s focus on industrial upgrades and green energy was a recurring theme. Lai Jiun Jye, Vice President of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, emphasized electric vehicles, batteries, new energy, and new materials as priority areas, noting, China is progressing so fast in technology. We need good mentors to help raise the standards of our SMEs.
Similarly, Myanmar’s Mya Han, Vice President of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, highlighted solar power and EV batteries, citing energy shortages as a catalyst for collaboration: We can have some cooperation on green energy like solar power and EV batteries, so that’s a huge market. Our two countries can develop this sector together.
Thailand’s Veerachai Monsintorn, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries and Chairman of the Thai-Chinese Economic and Investment Committee, proposed three strategies to deepen ties, including leveraging Guangdong’s industrial clusters and expanding into ASEAN markets. We also need to strengthen technology and industry exchanges and promote cooperation in AI, advanced manufacturing, and the digital economy to enhance the competitiveness of enterprises,
he said, reflecting a broader push for tech-driven growth.
Structural Frameworks for Integration
The ASEAN-China Centre, an intergovernmental body, joined as a co-organizer this year, signaling institutional support for the partnership. Ou Shaobin, deputy director of the trade, investment promotion and development research department of the CCPIT Guangdong Committee, outlined a complementary model: The two sides have forged a sound complementary model featuring ‘Guangdong manufacturing plus ASEAN resources’ and ‘Guangdong technologies paired with ASEAN markets’
, citing photovoltaic power, wind energy, and hydrogen as key areas.
This framework aligns with Guangdong’s mature industrial chains and ASEAN’s material resources, such as nickel ore and bauxite. Officials stressed that the collaboration aims to address supply chain vulnerabilities while tapping into emerging markets, particularly in renewable energy and electric two-wheelers.
Practical Steps and Industry Initiatives
Private sector players like Tungee, a tech firm, are bridging gaps through digital matchmaking. Co-founder Huang Junqiang explained, We can help them better understand, for example, the industrial clusters that exist in Guangdong, as well as which companies have production capabilities and distribution capabilities, so that they can find the right partners in China.
The company’s corporate mapping system is designed to lower barriers for ASEAN firms seeking Guangdong-based collaborators.
The conference, attended by over 1,000 officials and executives, will feature dialogues on AI-driven industrial upgrades and supply chain coordination. Yao Xinmin, vice-chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Guangdong Committee, described the event’s focus on artificial intelligence-driven industrial upgrading, new energy cooperation, and industrial and supply chain coordination.
With the forum set to conclude on Thursday, the next steps will hinge on implementing the memorandums and expanding pilot projects in green energy and tech sectors.
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