Reference News Network, September 26 - According to the South China Morning Post website on September 24, a report released on September 24 shows that China's economic influence remains its "strongest card" in Southeast Asia. As the region's main external partner, its influence throughout the region is still increasing.

In the Southeast Asia Influence Index by the Lowy Institute, China's total score is slightly above 65 points (out of a maximum of 100), leading the United States by about one point.

The report authors Susanna Barton, Jack Sato and Rakhman Jacob said: "China is the main export market for Southeast Asia, accounting for about 20% of the region's total exports, while the United States accounts for 16%. In addition, China also accounts for about 26% of the region's total imports."

They also said: "(China) is also an increasingly important source of private investment in the region. In new projects invested in Southeast Asia from 2015 to 2024, Chinese investment accounted for about 21%; while this proportion was only 13% in the previous decade ending in 2017."

The Lowy Institute's Southeast Asia Influence Index assesses activities that can generate influence between external partners and countries in the region, including five measurement areas: economic relations, defense networks, diplomatic influence, cultural influence, and regional engagement.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), composed of countries in the region, is China's largest trading partner. At the China-ASEAN Expo held in Nanning, a southern Chinese city, Chinese officials expressed willingness to strengthen the alignment of development strategies and continuously tighten the bonds of the community with a shared future.

The Lowy Institute noted in its report that China does not "dominate" Southeast Asia, meaning that China is not the main partner of the region in all areas. For example, China has not established a developed defense network with most countries in Southeast Asia.

The authors of the report said: "China is a major partner in population mobility in Southeast Asia, reflecting its status as a major source of foreign tourists and international students in the region. However, China's ability to project information through television, radio, newspapers, and news agencies is still weak, ranking sixth in this sub-indicator." (Translated by Hu Xue)

On September 20, the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo welcomed the public open day, with citizens and tourists flocking to the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center to view and shop. (Xinhua News Agency)

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7554209449188147762/

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