Relations with ASEAN still on strong footing, says commerce ministry official

Stressed ties between China and some Southeast Asian countries haven't affected investment flows, even though foreign direct investment in the world's second-largest economy significantly eased in May, a senior commerce ministry official said on Tuesday.

"Fluctuations of investment between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year were mainly caused by last year's base figures. Some big projects last year, which were not repeated this year, accounted for the changes," said Shen Danyang, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce.