BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- As global geopolitical uncertainties rise and the world accelerates toward multipolarity, neighboring countries increasingly view closer cooperation with China not merely as a strategic choice, but as a vital pathway to shared prosperity, high-level officials and scholars from across Asia said at a forum in Beijing.

Against a backdrop of global turbulence, China has rolled out its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). "It represents not only a significant opportunity for China's domestic growth but also a vision of cooperation with the world," said Phinij Jarusombat, former deputy prime minister of Thailand, at the opening ceremony of the 2026 China and Neighboring Countries High-Level Think Tank Forum.

During the two-day event, jointly organized by the National Institute of International Strategy and the Secretariat of the National Top Think Tank under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), a consensus emerged that a new chapter for the Global South is taking shape. Participants noted that this evolving partnership, characterized by closer connectivity and a commitment to a safer, smarter and more sustainable future, is actively injecting growth momentum into the region.

HARD CONNECTIVITY DRIVES TRADE GROWTH, ENERGY TRANSITION

Speakers attending the forum highlighted that China's commitment to hard connectivity, underpinned by a vast network of infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is deepening trade relations, strengthening strategic supply capacity and promoting green energy transition in neighboring countries, thereby reshaping the economic geography of the region.

With China as the top trading partner for 18 neighboring countries, the level of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation continues to rise, driving regional integration and robust supply chain synergy, said Gao Xiang, head of the CASS.

China has signed Belt and Road cooperation agreements with 25 neighboring countries, Gao noted. Key projects including the China-Laos Railway, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, the China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, are making steady progress, effectively boosting regional economic connectivity and unleashing development momentum, he added.

Data from China's commerce ministry shows that China's 2025 foreign trade with Belt and Road partner countries grew by 6.3 percent from a year earlier and hit 23.6 trillion yuan (about 3.44 trillion U.S. dollars), accounting for over half of the total. This growth rate outpaced the national average by 2.5 percentage points.

The BRI has evolved into a comprehensive system of roads and ports that act as the "true lifelines of trade," Jarusombat said.

Meanwhile, China is helping neighbors build resilient energy supply capacity and fast-track the shift to green development. Lucio Blanco Pitlo, president of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies, noted that cross-border gas and oil pipelines, as well as investments in renewable energy infrastructure, are key to powering a sustainable future in Southeast Asia.

Pitlo said that Chinese companies are actively building multipurpose dams, solar and wind farms, and energy storage facilities, as well as establishing power transmission lines and substations across the region. In the Philippines specifically, he highlighted that China has partnered with local companies to develop one of the world's largest solar farms and energy storage facilities.

Delegates agreed that the future of hard connectivity lies in deepening physical integration to forge a seamless regional market. Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences emphasized prioritizing logistics, specifically calling for railway extensions and smart ports to tighten regional bonds.

Ridwanur Rahman of the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies expanded this vision into a broader trans-regional network. He said that despite low current trade volumes, nations like Bangladesh hold immense potential as vital hubs. By linking South and Southeast Asia with Central Asia and Europe, this logistics artery would redefine economic geography, turning simple geographical proximity into shared economic momentum.

BRIDGING DIGITAL GAP IN AI ERA

In the era of artificial intelligence (AI), building digital bridges has emerged as a new growth engine for the region, driven by China's technological edge and active investments in related projects across Southeast Asia.

China's remarkable advances in scientific innovation and the digital economy are setting a global standard, Jarusombat said. Describing China's development as an "opportunity," he explained that by integrating supply chains, expanding bilateral trade corridors and embracing technological cooperation, Thailand can raise the living standards of its people.

Paulus Rudolf Yuniarto, a researcher at Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency, pointed out that a "digital bridge" is taking shape as Chinese tech companies accelerate their expansion into Southeast Asian markets. He highlighted that China's digital services are now deeply embedded in the daily lives of local citizens, driven by a large youth population and growing demand from local enterprises in the region.

Looking ahead, emerging industries, especially the AI sector, are becoming a key direction for mutual growth between Vietnam and China, according to Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa. Yuniarto added that joint programs regarding AI research centers between China and Indonesia could also be further developed in the coming years.

Data from the Ministry of Commerce reveals that China's exports of electronic components and mechanical equipment to Belt and Road partner countries have seen robust growth, bolstering the industrial development of these nations. Furthermore, newly signed agreements demonstrate that the digital economy has emerged as a crucial area for future cooperation, the ministry said.

As China steadily advances opening up and pursues mutual growth with its neighbors, the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) Version 3.0 officially began implementation in 2026. The new agreement includes emerging rules in the digital and green economies, as well as supply chains, aiming to deepen the soft connectivity in regional cooperation.

Launched in 2010, CAFTA is the world's largest free trade zone among developing countries. China-ASEAN trade value topped 1 trillion U.S. dollars for the first time in 2025, data from the General Administration of Customs shows.

To foster regional growth, China will enrich its neighbors by advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and strengthening supply chain connectivity, Gao said. It will cultivate new drivers in the digital economy, green development and tech innovation, while promoting inclusive growth, according to Gao.

These efforts aim to transform individual strengths into shared momentum, building a community with a shared regional future, he said.