Diplomatic envoys from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries have spoken highly of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, at a time marked by the first year of upgraded China-ASEAN relations with a comprehensive strategic partnership and the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Malaysian Ambassador to China Raja Dato' Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, after receiving the book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China IV as a gift at the 19th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit held in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, in September, said the valuable gift of Xi's speeches gives very important insights into Chinese policy toward ASEAN and South Asia in general.

"We know that Xi has personal attachment to the promotion of better relations between ASEAN and China," he said.

Thailand's Ambassador to China Arthayudh Srisamoot stressed the vital role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. "There are many success stories in China, one of which is lifting 800 million people out of poverty, and the guidance of Xi helped a lot," he said.

The books were given by Liu Ning, Party secretary of Guangxi and chairman of the standing committee of the Guangxi people's congress, and Lan Tianli, deputy Party secretary and chairman of Guangxi, while meeting the envoys of the ASEAN countries in Nanning during the events.

Liu said that the set of books vividly shows the governance and ruling strategy of the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core, and records the great practice of the CPC's upholding and developing of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. He said the publications could help the international community keep abreast with the latest developments of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and better understand China and the CPC.

China-ASEAN trade reached over $627 billion from January to August, up 13.3 percent year-on-year, official statistics showed. It contributed 15 percent of China's gross foreign trade value, compared with 14.5 percent during the same period last year.

In November last year, Xi and leaders of ASEAN countries attended the commemorative summit of the 30th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations, in which the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership and joint building of the "five homes" of peace, tranquility, prosperity, beauty and amity were proposed, pointing the direction for deepening China-ASEAN cooperation from a new starting point.

By SHI RUIPENG in Nanning and CHEN MEILING