With the deepening of China-ASEAN relations, studying the image construction of ASEAN in Chinese mainstream media has become increasingly significant. As one of China’s most important regional cooperation partners, ASEAN’s image not only influences the development of China-ASEAN relations but also affects public opinion and social identity regarding regional cooperation. This study explores the topic based on three key backgrounds: the realities of international relations and regional cooperation provide a macro perspective for understanding China-ASEAN interactions; the development of Chinese mainstream media and its external communication highlights the media's crucial role in shaping ASEAN’s image; and the impact of ASEAN’s image on Chinese society underscores the study's relevance from the perspective of public perception and social discourse. These factors lay the foundation for analyzing how Chinese mainstream media report on ASEAN and the internal logic behind image construction, offering a clear framework for subsequent research.