Final answer:
In 2010, China formed a free trade area with the ten countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), signaling important steps towards regional economic integration in Asia.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 2010, the country that formed a free trade area with the ten countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was China. The ASEAN began in the 1960s and aimed to foster economic development and political stability within Southeast Asia to counter the spread of communism. Over time, ASEAN has grown and sought to create a more integrated economic region akin to the EU, which increased its attractiveness for free trade agreements with other nations.
ASEAN's relevance in the global economic landscape was underlined by the establishment of other regional blocs such as APEC, which included members like Australia, the United States, and China that endorsed free trade and economic cooperation. The evolution of such regional trading blocs around the world demonstrates the importance of strategic economic alliances within regions like Southeast Asia. China's engagement with ASEAN in forming a free trade area marked a significant step in regional economic integration and cooperation in Asia.