The successful conclusion of negotiations on Version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) is expected to foster the creation of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future, while driving development across the region, said an Indonesian expert on Saturday. After nine rounds of talks in nearly two years, China and the ten ASEAN member countries have officially wrapped up their negotiations on the upgraded CAFTA, the Ministry of Commerce announced last Wednesday. During an interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Mohammad Faisal, executive director of Indonesia's Center of Reform on Economics (CORE), emphasized that the green economy focus in the updated CAFTA represents an "upgraded" dimension of ASEAN-China economic cooperation, marking significant progress. Faisal underscored the pivotal role of the updated CAFTA in advancing broader and deeper regional economic integration under new circumstances. Amid rising protectionism, Faisal said that the completion of the upgraded CAFTA signifies a resolute commitment to uphold free trade principles, resisting unilateralism and protectionism from certain major powers, which will inject greater certainty into regional and global trade development, boosting confidence in regional and global economic growth. The formal signing of the upgraded CAFTA is expected to take place before the end of the year. The CAFTA was first signed in 2002 and came into force on Jan 1, 2010. ASEAN, which consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, is China's largest trading partner. In 2024, bilateral trade amounted to 6.99 trillion yuan (about 970.21 billion U.S. dollars). In recent years, ASEAN has maintained its position as China's largest trading partner. Shotlist: Jakarta, Indonesia - May 24, 2025: FILE: Jakarta, Indonesia - July 2022 1. Aerial shots of cityscape; Jakarta, Indonesia - May 24, 2025 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohammad Faisal, executive director, Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia (starting with shot 1): "The green economy, I think is something that is quite new. So, it can be seen as an upgraded characteristic of the relationship for economic cooperation between ASEAN and China."; FILE: Nanning City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China - Date Unknown 3. Various of national flags of China, ASEAN countries; flags of ASEAN, China-ASEAN Expo; Jakarta, Indonesia - May 24, 2025 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohammad Faisal, executive director, Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia (starting with shot 3): "Each government should engage and involve the private sector to utilize this ongoing FTA to promote green economy, digital economy, supply chain connectivity, in order to address current issues."; FILE: Vientiane, Laos - Date Unknown 5. Aerial shot of buildings; 6. Aerial shot of solar panels; 7. Various of production in progress, workers; 8. Containers being moved; 9. Aerial shot of freight train running; Jakarta, Indonesia - May 24, 2025 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohammad Faisal, executive director, Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia: "Because of the 'set back' of free trade progress, a sort of 'set back' triggered by the United States' recent foreign policy. So, many believe that the world has started to move from globalization to de-globalization. So, this reasoning CAFTA negotiations can be seen as a repelling move or a fight back to that turns towards the de-globalization."; FILE: Qinzhou City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China - Date Unknown 11. Aerial shots of freight trains, containers; FILE: Vientiane, Laos - July 26, 2024 12. Freight train moving; FILE: China - Exact Location and Date Unknown 13. Aerial shots of containers, cranes, ships at port. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]