Seek .(US:SKLTY) Nan Fang Du Shi Bao·2025-03-25 06:50Core Insights - The report highlights the resilience of China's economy and key industries under U.S. sanctions, using DeepSeek as a case study to illustrate innovation and growth potential in the face of geopolitical challenges [3]. Economic Outlook - The "Asian Economic Outlook and Integration Process 2025 Report" predicts a moderate recovery in Asian economies, with growth expected to rise to 4.5% in 2025 from 4.4% in 2024. The GDP share of Asian economies in the world is projected to increase from 48.1% in 2024 to 48.6% in 2025 [2]. - Excluding China, the weighted actual GDP growth rate for other East Asian economies is expected to decline by 1.0 percentage points to 3.3% in 2025, while the growth rate for other Asian economies is projected to decrease by 0.3 percentage points to 4.2% [2]. Trade and Investment Challenges - Ongoing trade tensions, particularly with the U.S. imposing tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China, are expected to create significant uncertainty for global trade and investment in 2025 [2]. - The report emphasizes that these trade frictions will put overall pressure on trade and investment in Asia [2]. E-commerce and Digital Trade - E-commerce and digital trade are highlighted as key growth areas, with the Asia-Pacific region's retail e-commerce growth expected to reach 8.4% in 2024. China's cross-border e-commerce import and export total is projected at 2.63 trillion yuan (approximately 369 billion USD), reflecting a year-on-year growth of 10.8% [4]. - Southeast Asia's e-commerce sector is also experiencing significant growth, with a gross merchandise value (GMV) of 263 billion USD, up 15% year-on-year [4]. - However, compliance risks related to cross-border e-commerce are noted, particularly due to changes in U.S. customs policies and new regulations from the EU regarding low-value goods [4]. Employment Trends - The employment growth rate in Asia is expected to decline significantly from 1.94% in 2024 to 1.22% in 2025, which is lower than the global growth rate of 1.28% [6]. - Despite this decline, the overall unemployment rate in Asia is projected to slightly decrease from 4.40% in 2024 to 4.39% in 2025, remaining below the global rate of 4.96% [6]. - The impact of artificial intelligence on employment is highlighted, with varying effects across regions and genders. The highest impact is expected in Northern, Southern, and Western Europe, while East Asia shows the highest proportion of affected employment in Asia [6][8].