Beijing, Dec. 9 -- Economic ties between Vietnam and China have expanded at an unprecedented pace in recent years, becoming one of the key drivers of cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to Professor Cui Hongjian from the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at the Beijing Foreign Studies University. He stressed that Vietnam is not only a major trading partner but also a vital link in the regional supply chain. Reviewing more than two decades since the signing of the China - ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) agreement, Cui said bilateral trade has grown remarkably. From over 40 billion USD in 2000, China - ASEAN trade has surged nearly 25-fold to 980 billion USD in 2024 and is expect...