Rapid development of ASEAN - China economic relations since the early 1990s is thought to play an important role in strengthening strategic partnership between the two sides. By analysing the practice and trends of ASEAN - China economic relations as well as the association of such relations with the partnership between the two parties, the paper points out that besides promoting the strategic partnership, ASEAN - China economic relations have created certain impediments such as reducing the trust of ASEAN in China. For economic relations to become the factor promoting ASEAN - China strategic partnership, both sides need to find the way to improve the mutual trust. Particularly, China needs to win ASEAN's trust in its actual motive when promoting the relationship between the two sides.