Many countries within Asia have been working to expand their economies and increase their strategic position in international trade and foreign investment. China has become the third largest country in terms of total trade volume, second largest in exports and third largest in imports. China is one of the major exporters for various products and an increasingly significant importer of energy, natural resources, and agricultural products. Trade links between Asian, Europe and Americas have grown robustly.

Asia is increasingly considered the “factory of the world” with expanding cross-border trade and foreign investment becoming a core part of the manufacturing process. Asia is expected to become a much larger consumer market as incomes rise.