The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce – located in East China's Shanghai city – held a government-enterprise roundtable meeting on June 30 for companies from countries involved in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN and that also have operations in the metropolis.

Representatives from the Chambers of Commerce of Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia in China, as well as senior executives from eight ASEAN firms – including Development Bank of Singapore, CP Group and APP – participated in the online meeting.

They gave briefings on their COVID-19 epidemic prevention measures and gave details about their progress in resuming production. They also expressed their confidence and determination to keep investing in Shanghai.

Luo Zhisong, the chief economist of the commission, answered questions raised by the enterprises. 

He said that ASEAN became China's largest trading partner in 2020. In the first quarter of this year, the value of China's imports and exports to ASEAN countries reached 1.35 trillion yuan ($201.66 billion), showing strong year-on-year growth.

Shanghai is said to enjoy close economic and trade relations with ASEAN. Since 2019, ASEAN – surpassing the United States – has become Shanghai's second largest trading partner.