The vessel Zhenhua 34, carrying 14 rubber-tired gantry cranes, departed from Nantong Port in East China"s Jiangsu Province on July 5, 2026, bound for ASEAN destinations including Malaysia, to support the smart upgrading of ports in Belt and Road partner countries. Photo: VCG

　　The year 2026 marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. China and ASEAN have been each other"s largest trading partners for many consecutive years. A recent public opinion survey conducted by the Global Times Institute on "Chinese Public Views on ASEAN" in 2026 found that cooperation outcomes between China and ASEAN in recent years have been widely and positively received. Most respondents support deeper bilateral collaboration, express high hopes for economic and trade ties, and growing enthusiasm for people-to-people exchanges.

　　The survey was conducted from June 12 to July 1 across 31 provincial-level regions in Chinese mainland, targeting ordinary residents aged 18 to 69. A total of 1,875 valid questionnaires were collected, with sample support from the market research firm DATA 100. The data were weighted according to the gender and age structure of internet users as reported in the 57th Statistical Report on China"s Internet Development, released by the China Internet Network Information Center in February 2026. In 2022, to mark the first anniversary of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the Global Times conducted its first "Chinese Public Views on ASEAN" survey in Chinese mainland.

　　Optimistic outlook for China-ASEAN ties