ASEAN urged to strengthen ties with China

The global economy is increasingly shifting more toward Asia, Thai experts say. Because of this, they are calling on Southeast Asian countries to build stronger ties with China while working more with their neighbors to navigate complex regional relations and grow more resilient as a whole.

"The world order has changed fundamentally and there has been a significant shift of global economic activities toward the Asian region with China playing a crucial role," said Arm Tungnirun, director of the Chinese Studies Center at Chulalongkorn University's Institute of Asian Studies.

"This transition reflects the region's growing influence and the need for strategic positioning to harness emerging opportunities."

In a recent seminar at the Bangkok-based university, Arm underscored the importance of recognizing the pivotal role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in shaping future global economic dynamics, moving beyond traditional narratives to embrace a more integrated and influential regional framework.

Amid current geopolitical uncertainties, it is crucial for ASEAN countries to coordinate policies as a region, Arm said.

"However, this is challenging because Asian countries have diverse income levels, cultures and external relationships with major powers like China and the United States, making policy alignment difficult but necessary," he said.

He called on the region to move beyond traditional infrastructure connectivity and actively set agendas for cooperation in areas such as governance systems, regulatory frameworks and new structures amid shifts in technology and trade. This requires a mindset shift, he explained.

"Instead of competing with each other — whether it's Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia — we should focus on cocreation, joint partnerships and building common markets. By complementing each other's strengths, we can create shared opportunities and a brighter future for the region," he said.

Echoing this view, Pavika Sriratanaban, director of the Institute of Asian Studies at Chulalongkorn University, said ASEAN's key priority is building cooperation with China, focusing on trust and long-term resilience.

She highlighted academic institutions as vital spaces for complex dialogue, transcending political cycles through open and responsible idea exchange. Moreover, active engagement in dialogue is essential to avoid having futures determined by others in a competitive world, she said.

"Collaborative networks across institutions and disciplines are vital for forming trust and shared understanding amid global fragmentation," she said.

Navigating difficulties

Aroon Eamsureya, chairman of the Thai-Chinese Economic and Investment Institute under the Federation of Thai Industries, emphasized the need for stronger regional cooperation to navigate complexities and foster collective resilience, despite inherent diversities and external pressures.

Facing challenges amid geopolitical and geoeconomic threats, Thailand, whose GDP is less than 5 percent of both the US and China's GDP, is navigating multiple difficulties such as a technology gap, scaling economic growth, and the ability to connect with new industrial supply chains, Aroon said.

He urged Thai industries to enhance competitiveness by focusing more on next-generation industries, such as the digital industry, artificial intelligence, green energy and biotechnology, as the country has updated its climate targets, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050.