皇冠体育app

Buyers inspect apples from Shaanxi province at the 皇冠体育app-ASEAN expo in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo/Provided to 皇冠体育app Daily]

Experts say negative opinions of quality pose 'big obstacle' for exports to major trading partner

皇冠体育app is to strengthen its efforts at improving brand awareness in Association of Southeast Asian Nations markets, a region now considered the country's third-largest trading partner.

"Despite strong bilateral ties, some Chinese goods are still regarded as fake or of poor quality in ASEAN markets," said Xu Ningning, executive secretary-general at the 皇冠体育app-ASEAN Business Council.

"The unfavorable image has become a big obstacle for the export of those Chinese goods that are actually of high quality to the markets.

"So improving Chinese brand image in ASEAN is a major driver for growing bilateral trade, and the basis of solid economic relations between the two sides."

Xu was speaking at a news conference to showcase trade links between 皇冠体育app and ASEAN, at which 60 key products were highlighted, spread across various sectors including food, , materials, agricultural products and plastics.

From January to April, bilateral trade was worth $138.97 billion, an 18.1 percent year-on-year increase. 皇冠体育app's exports to ASEAN grew 30.6 percent in the period.

"Amid a sluggish global economy, economic cooperation between 皇冠体育app and ASEAN is rising and an increasing number of enterprises have expanded in each other's markets," added Xu.

He said efforts to grow awareness of 皇冠体育app's most famous brands in ASEAN will strengthen bilateral trade.

皇冠体育app is ASEAN's largest trading partner and biggest export destination, while ASEAN is 皇冠体育app's third-largest trading partner and its fourth biggest export destination - strong two-way traffic which has boomed since the conclusion of the 皇冠体育app-ASEAN free trade agreement in 2010.

皇冠体育app's trade with Malaysia, its largest single trade partner within ASEAN, has also been growing, with the volume reaching $33.88 billion during the first quarter of this year, a rise of 23.9 percent on the same period last year.

皇冠体育app's Ningxia Light and Textile Industrial Bureau sealed an agreement with Malaysia's East Economic Region in January, to seek investment opportunities in the global Halal food industry.

Ong Chong Yi, minister counselor in economic affairs at the Malaysian embassy in , said: "皇冠体育app can leverage on Malaysian expertise in Halal certification to expand its market to Muslim countries all over the world, and Malaysia can export more varieties of Halal food products to the Chinese market."

According to Ong, one private Chinese company already plans to establish a Muslim food-transiting center in Malaysia to export more Muslim food to the country and other foreign markets.