2020年5月29日，中国与东盟发表《中国—东盟经贸部长关于抗击新冠肺炎疫情加强自贸合作的联合声明》（以下简称《声明》）。
《声明》强调双方加强合作、坚定信心、消除疫情对全球和区域贸易投资的影响。承诺携手应对疫情，开展各层次和各领域的抗疫合作。充分肯定中国—东盟自贸协定对促进双方贸易投资发展的重要作用，承诺保持市场开放，消除不必要的贸易限制措施，营造良好的贸易投资环境。
习近平主席在二十国集团应对新冠肺炎特别峰会上提出倡议，呼吁各国加强国际合作，凝聚战胜疫情强大合力。《声明》的发表是落实习近平主席倡议的具体举措，体现了中国加强与东盟各国抗疫合作、充分发挥中国—东盟自贸区在应对疫情中的重要作用、力促区域经济早日复苏的坚定决心。
中国—东盟自贸区是我国对外商建的首个自贸区，自2010年建成以来，有效推动了我与东盟的贸易投资自由化便利化进程，为区域经济融合发展提供了强劲动力。2010—2019年，我与东盟双边贸易规模年均增长9.4%。特别是今年1—4月，在全球新冠肺炎疫情肆虐、国际贸易遭遇剧烈冲击的严峻挑战下，中国—东盟进出口逆势增长，货物贸易总值1.35万亿元，同比增长5.7%，占我国外贸总值的14.9%，形成了我与东盟互为第一大贸易伙伴的良好格局，充分体现了中国—东盟自贸区为我与东盟经贸关系带来的强大韧性。中国—东盟自贸区还是我国享惠规模最大的自贸区，2019年我自东盟享惠进口占全部享惠进口的49%，自贸协定利用率高达82.1%。
下一步，中国将与东盟各国一道落实好《声明》，继续实施好中国—东盟自贸协定，使更多的企业和民众在双方的抗疫合作和自贸协定实施中收获实实在在的利益，为促进区域贸易投资增长和疫情过后区域经济快速复苏作出更多努力。
声明中英文原文如下：
中国—东盟经贸部长关于
抗击新冠肺炎疫情加强自贸合作的联合声明
2020年5月29日
1、中华人民共和国商务部长和东盟成员国经贸部长赞赏所有组织和个人为抗击新冠肺炎疫情做出的不懈努力和重大贡献，重申紧密合作抗击疫情，应对疫情给各国和世界贸易与经济带来的负面影响。部长们呼吁共同努力，减轻疫情对全球和区域贸易投资的影响，重建经贸信心，寻求全球经济的早日复苏和安全可持续增长。
2、部长们对新冠肺炎疫情给域内人民带来的死亡和病痛表示深切悲痛。新冠肺炎疫情是一项全球挑战，需要世界共同应对。为此，中国和东盟携起手来，加强区域协调，共同抗击疫情。
3、部长们重申落实2020年4月14日发表的《东盟与中日韩抗击新冠肺炎疫情领导人特别会议联合声明》的承诺。
4、新冠肺炎疫情为区域和全球带来了前所未有的挑战。中国感谢东盟成员国政府和私营部门在中国暴发疫情时给予的同情、支持和援助。东盟伙伴捐款捐物，鼎力支持了中国抗击疫情的行动。东盟感谢中国及时为东盟成员国和东盟秘书处提供抗疫援助，包括派遣急需的医疗队和提供急需的医疗物资。
5、中国和东盟承诺及时、有效地共享抗疫信息和经验，加强在疫情防控上的合作。中国再次承诺继续与东盟携手，克服疫情暴发带来的挑战。
6、部长们承诺进一步加强区域、国家各层面的疫情防控合作，包括定期、及时、透明地交换信息和分享知识、经验以及最佳实践，并促进抗疫药品、疫苗的生产和获取。部长们承诺透明、有效地交换技术信息和分享知识，确保每个国家的经验和知识能够转化为区域的最佳实践，减少疫情给卫生、生产、贸易、投资、旅游等领域带来的负面影响，彰显中国—东盟面向和平与繁荣的战略伙伴关系的精神内涵。
7、部长们承诺为区域和全球的卫生安全做出贡献，加强药品、疫苗、关键医疗物资的研发、生产和获取，体现中国—东盟战略伙伴关系精神。部长们呼吁中国和东盟共同努力，减少疫情对经济的负面影响。
8、部长们重申对域内所有国家，特别是最不发达国家的坚定支持，承诺提供力所能及的人员、技术、物资等方面援助，以帮助抗击疫情并挽救当地人民、特别是最脆弱群体的生命和健康。部长们将在恢复贸易与投资的措施中，更多考虑发展因素，采用具有包容性的政策工具，使经济快速复苏并惠及域内全体人民。
9、部长们再次肯定中国—东盟自贸区对促进贸易投资增长和确保域内经济稳定包容发展的重要作用。自贸区全面建成以来，双向贸易投资快速增长。根据东盟秘书处数据，双边贸易额从2010年的2355亿美元增加到了2019年的4970亿美元，大幅增长了111％。根据中方统计，双边贸易额从2010年的2928亿美元增加到了2019年的6415亿美元，增长了119％。即便在当前经济发展面临挑战的形势下，中国和东盟贸易额仍实现逆势增长，为本地区经济复苏带来重大机遇。这一成就显示了中国—东盟经贸关系的强劲活力，对保持区域经济发展信心至关重要。
10、部长们认为，自贸协定的顺利实施对促进货物和服务的自由流动、提升双向投资水平及保持供应链完整具有重要意义。部长们将继续共同致力于执行好中国—东盟自贸协定，将《升级议定书》全面生效实施的效用最大化，为疫情后经济复苏做出贡献。为此，部长们认识到有必要探讨改善市场准入的可能性，如解决非关税贸易壁垒问题，并通过深化和扩大自贸协定框架下其他领域经济合作，如非关税措施和电子商务等，深化区域经济一体化。
11、部长们同意保持市场开放，推动贸易投资便利化以保障区域和全球供应链。优先提升食品、农产品、药品、医疗用品以及其他关键物资和服务等的通关便利化水平，保障其持续和顺畅的跨境流动。
12、部长们同意继续应对关税和非关税壁垒，包括阻碍供应链中商品和服务畅通流动的壁垒。部长们同意避免采取不必要的贸易措施，减少对区域供应链的不利影响，为区域经济尽快复苏做出贡献。部长们认同，应对疫情采取的任何必要紧急贸易措施应是有针对性、适度、透明和临时性的，不应形成不必要的贸易壁垒，并应考虑世界海关组织（WCO）的相关标准和建议，同时与各方在世界贸易组织（WTO）有关协议项下的权利和义务保持一致。部长们鼓励按照WTO现行规则以及世界卫生组织（WHO）《国际卫生条例（2005）》相关要求，及时向WTO通报应对疫情采取的贸易措施。
13、部长们认识到疫情期间通过远程互动缓解旅行限制措施的需求不断增长，承诺采取措施提振市场信心，稳定区域经济，并借力技术和数字贸易手段，遵守负责任的商业实践，引导和帮助相关方继续开展经营，尤其是私营部门、初创企业和中小微企业。
14、部长们将继续致力于建立自由、开放、透明、非歧视、可预测和稳定的贸易投资环境，支持以规则为基础、以WTO为核心的多边贸易体制。部长们将继续在多边和区域经贸平台密切合作，形成合力，为危机后重振经济创造机遇。部长们鼓励制定疫后复苏计划，分享经验教训和最佳实践，促进经济发展，为全球经济繁荣稳定做出贡献。
ASEAN-China Economic Ministers’ Joint Statement on Combating the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and Enhancing ACFTA Cooperation
29 May 2020
1. The ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) and the Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China recognize the tireless efforts and significant contributions made by organizations and individuals in response to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic and reaffirm their commitment to work closely in the fight against this pandemic and its adverse impact on the trade and economy of their respective countries and the world at large. They call for joint efforts in mitigating the impact of the pandemic on global and regional trade and investment, restoring economic and trade confidence, as well as pursuing and securing sustainable and long-term growth of international trade and investment.
2. The Ministers are deeply saddened by the loss of many lives and the suffering caused by the pandemic. COVID-19 pandemic is a global issue that requires a coordinated global response; thus, as a regional response, ASEAN and China are partnering to enhance coordination in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. The Ministers reaffirm their commitments under the Joint Statement of the Special ASEAN Plus Three Summit on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) adopted on 14 April 2020 via videoconference.
4. The unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19 have affected the region and the world. China appreciates the sympathy, support and assistance rendered by the ASEAN Member States, including their private sectors, during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. The generosity and strong support of its ASEAN partners, both in cash and in kind, have supported China in its fight against the pandemic. ASEAN conveys its appreciation to China for the timely assistance not only to ASEAN Member Countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic but also to the ASEAN Secretariat, comprising dispatches of urgently-needed medical teams and medical supplies.
5. ASEAN and China commit to share anti-pandemic information and experiences in a prompt and efficient manner, as well as deepen cooperation on prevention and control of COVID-19. China further reaffirms its commitment to continue working closely with ASEAN to overcome the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak.
6. The Ministers commit to further strengthen collaboration at all levels across the region and countries on the prevention and control of COVID-19, including through regular, timely and transparent exchange of information and sharing of knowledge, experience and best practices, as well as on facilitating production and access to medicines and vaccines used for the treatment of COVID-19. They express their commitment to ensure that technical information exchange and knowledge-sharing is transparent and efficient. This will ensure that the knowledge and experience of each country translate into best practices for the region, support to mitigate the negative impacts on healthcare, manufacturing, trade, investment and tourism, and to demonstrate the spirit enshrined in the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity.
7. The Ministers commit to contribute to the regional and global healthcare security by enhancing cooperation on research and development, and the production of and access to medicines, vaccines, and essential medical supplies to demonstrate the spirit of ASEAN-China partnership. They call for united efforts between ASEAN and China for mitigating the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the economy.
8. The Ministers reiterate their firm support to every country in the region, particularly the least-developed countries, and commit to provide aid in the form of professionals, technologies and supplies, as appropriate, to help fight the pandemic and protect the lives and health of the local people, especially the vulnerable ones. The Ministers will emphasize more development considerations in the trade and investment recovery measures to ensure that inclusive policy instruments are in place to fast-track economic recovery and benefit all people in the region.
9. The Ministers reaffirm the importance of the ASEAN–China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) in boosting trade and investment and in ensuring stable and inclusive growth of the region. Since its establishment, the ACFTA has contributed in improving two-way trade and investment that brought about rapid growth. According to data available at the ASEAN Secretariat, bilateral trade grew from US$ 235.5 billion in 2010 to US$ 497.0 billion in 2019 - a substantial increase of 111.0%. Based on China’s statistics, its bilateral trade with ASEAN increased by 119.1%, that is, from US$ 292.8 billion in 2010 to US$ 641.5 billion in 2019. Even under the current economic challenges, trade between ASEAN and China remains positive and presents significant opportunity in the economic recovery of the region. This achievement and trend demonstrates the strength of ASEAN-China trade relations, which could be critical in maintaining confidence in the regional economy.
10. The Ministers recognize that the smooth implementation of the ACFTA is vital in facilitating and promoting the free flow of goods and services, enhancing two-way investment, as well as maintaining the integrity of supply chains. They express their determination to continue exerting efforts to better implement the ACFTA which includes full implementation of the ACFTA Upgrading Protocol recognizing its potential contribution to a post-pandemic economic recovery. To this end, the Ministers recognize the need to explore the possibility of improving market access, i.e. addressing non-tariff barriers to trade, and by deepening and broadening economic cooperation in other areas under the ACFTA, such as non-tariff measures and electronic commerce thereby deepening regional economic integration.
11. The Ministers commit to keeping the markets open and further facilitating trade and investment in order to maintain the regional and global supply chains. Priority will be given to facilitating customs clearance to ensure continued and smooth cross-border flow of food, agricultural products, commodities, medicines and medical supplies, and other essential goods and services.
12. The Ministers agree to continue addressing tariff and non-tariff barriers, including those that impede the smooth flow of goods and services in supply chains. They further agree to refrain from imposing unnecessary trade measures with the view to minimizing the adverse impact on regional supply chains and thereby contributing towards an early economic recovery of the region. They acknowledge that any emergency trade measures deemed necessary to tackle COVID-19 shall be targeted, proportionate, transparent and temporary, and shall not create unnecessary barriers to trade and shall take into account the standards and recommendations of the World Customs Organization (WCO) and be consistent with the rights and obligations of each Party under the World Trade Organization (WTO) covered agreements. The Ministers encourage prompt notification to the WTO of trade-related measures implemented in response to COVID-19 in line with existing WTO rules and the World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005.
13. The Ministers acknowledge the growing need for remote interactions to address the movement restrictions amid the pandemic. They commit to take measures to boost market confidence and improve stability of the regional economy as well as engage and assist stakeholders especially the private sectors, business start-ups and the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to continue business operation by leveraging on technology and digital trade, while adhering to responsible business practices.
14. The Ministers remain committed to a free, open, transparent and non-discriminatory, predictable and stable trade and investment environment, and supportive of a rules-based Multilateral Trading System centered on the WTO. They will continue to work closely at both multilateral and regional economic and trade platforms, to create synergies among those frameworks, and to leverage opportunities for a post-crisis revitalization. They encourage the development of post-pandemic recovery plan to share experience, lessons learned and best practices in stimulating economic development towards achieving tangible outcomes and contribute to the prosperity and stability of global economy.
