Christine Susanna Tjhin, director of strategic communication and research at Indonesia's Gentala Institute, highlighted shared climate vulnerabilities and shared climate and development goals as key drivers of green economic cooperation.

"Both ASEAN members and China are committed to global climate targets and to deepening regional integration through ASEAN-based mechanisms that support mutually beneficial, inclusive, and equitable development."

Yang Fang, associate professor at the School of International Relations of Xiamen University, echoed this view, stating that previous achievements in China-ASEAN green cooperation have laid a solid foundation for its emergence as a new hot spot.

"Whether it's Chinese-funded clean energy projects or the emergence of various collaboration models like green industrial parks, they fully demonstrate the solid foundation and strong market demand for green cooperation," she said.

Data from the International Renewable Energy Agency shows that China and ASEAN have become major contributors to global renewable energy capacity additions. Their combined new capacity increased from 57 percent of global renewable energy additions in 2020 to 65 percent in 2024.

Lawrence Loh, director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at the National University of Singapore Business School, said that the green economy, as a new focal point of China-ASEAN cooperation, creates a win-win synergy in crucial economic domains, particularly trade and investments, creating job opportunities for the domestic settings of ASEAN that benefit local livelihoods.

Beyond bilateral benefits, experts also highlighted the significance of China-ASEAN green cooperation for the global green transition, calling it a powerful force for improving global climate governance.

Yang emphasized the important contribution of China-ASEAN green cooperation on a global scale.

"In 2024, China and ASEAN together account for over 20 percent of global GDP and about 36 percent of global carbon emissions. By jointly promoting low-carbon transition, China and ASEAN will profoundly change the global energy structure and emission patterns.