On September 18, 2025, over 2,000 companies will gather in Nanning for what Chinese officials describe as the ASEAN-China-Japan-Korea Supply Chain Conference. According to a State Council Information Office press briefing, nearly 400 foreign enterprises have confirmed participation. This conference, and the framework it represents, may offer insights into how China is approaching economic integration with U.S. allies Japan and South Korea despite ongoing security tensions.
The Chinese government's presentation of this event, embedded within what officials call "东盟-中日韩" (ASEAN-China-Japan-Korea) cooperation, suggests a possible strategy of using multilateral frameworks to maintain economic ties that might be difficult to sustain bilaterally.
