Agreements expected to cement trade and investment ties between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and Hong Kong were signed on Sunday at the sidelines of the Philippines’ hosting of the annual Asean summit.

Officials said the Asean Hong Kong China Free Trade Agreement (AHKCFTA) and Asean Hong Kong Investment Agreement (AHKIA) were part of the bloc’s continued efforts to expand external economic relations and foster greater trade opportunities for the Asean Economic Community (AEC).