Muhammad Abdurrohim, research coordinator at the ASEAN-China Research Center of Universitas Indonesia, told the Global Times that public expectations in ASEAN members align widely with those held by Chinese citizens. First, economic and trade cooperation - expanding agricultural market access to China has long been a key foreign policy priority for ASEAN. Second, digital economy cooperation ranks high on ASEAN agendas, even more so than among Chinese respondents. As ASEAN nations push forward final negotiations on the Digital Economy Framework Agreement, the bloc sees China as an indispensable partner in fintech, cloud services and artificial intelligence. Third, infrastructure cooperation: the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and China-Laos Railway have reshaped how local populations across Southeast Asia view their countries" partnerships with China. Fourth is green transition and industrial upgrading.

　　Abdurrohim also noted that ASEAN members have different priorities: Singapore focuses heavily on digital finance; Vietnam and Thailand prioritize manufacturing upgrades; Laos and Cambodia center on infrastructure development and narrowing development gaps; Indonesia concentrates on industrialization. He emphasized that a nuanced, accurate understanding of these varying national priorities will help China carry out more effective engagement and exchanges with each ASEAN members.

　　People-to-people exchanges gain momentum

　　In recent years, China and ASEAN have continued to deepen exchanges between their peoples by facilitating visa procedures, strengthening connectivity and expanding cooperation in education and tourism. Survey data show that nearly 60 percent of respondents welcomed more ASEAN citizens traveling to China for tourism, study and business activities in the future. Meanwhile, half of the respondents expressed an interest in traveling to ASEAN countries for tourism, study or business.