ASEAN links stronger

In the first quarter, ASEAN continued to be Liaoning's second-largest trading partner.

Under the supervision of customs, Anshan Zizhu Heavy Special Steel Co recently loaded 25 metric tons of steel sheet piles for export. The steel products were transported by rail and sea from Dalian Dayaowan Port to Manila in the Philippines.

"In recent years, infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia have been steadily progressing, and we have been continuously developing new products, actively expanding cooperation with Southeast Asian countries," said Tang Qunzhong, the company's general manager.

Anshan Zizhu's products have been exported to seven ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, Cambodia, and the Philippines.

"With the China-ASEAN preferential origin policy, our products enjoy an average tariff preference of 7.5 percentage points in the Southeast Asian market, saving customers tens of millions of yuan in tariff costs last year," Tang said.

The industrial chain connection between Liaoning and ASEAN has grown closer in recent years. According to Dalian Customs statistics, in the first quarter of this year, Liaoning's trade with ASEAN reached 24.26 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 19.7 percent, and a historical high.

Trade with Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia increased by 9.6 percent, 32.7 percent, and 54.5 percent, respectively.