Hanoi, April 15 -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is committed to deepening its comprehensive strategic partnership with China and upholding multilateralism, the bloc's Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn has said.

During a recent interview granted to Xinhua, Kao said that since elevating bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2021, ASEAN and China have seen their trade surge, cementing their status as each other's largest trading partners.

He depicted the Version 3.0 ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (FTA) - with negotiations substantially concluded - as a pivotal driver for their cooperation in digital economy, green industries, blue economy and streamlined customs protocols.

Kao emphasised that ASEAN ex...