General

China has been actively promoting the construction of free trade zones in response to the trend of global regional economic integration. The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to accelerate the implementation of the free trade zone strategy, the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed to promote the free trade zone strategy, and the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to expand the global network of high-standard free trade zones. "The Ministry of Commerce has taken a series of measures to implement the strategy of the CPC Central Committee and made a series of achievements," said Wang Shouwen, the international trade negotiator and deputy minister of the Ministry of Commerce.

Specifically, a series of achievements are mainly reflected in the continuous expansion of the circle of friends of the free trade zone, the official launch of the world's largest free trade zone, and progress in actively promoting the accession to the high standard economic and trade agreement.

Wang Shouwen said that in expanding the "circle of friends", in the past decade, the number of free trade agreements signed by China has increased from 10 to 19, and the number of free trade partners has increased from 18 to 26. "It can be said that we have initially established a network of free trade agreements based on the surrounding areas, radiating the 'the Belt and Road' and facing the whole world. Especially last year, we made some new progress in the construction of free trade areas. The free trade agreements with Cambodia, New Zealand and New Zealand have entered into force. We signed the early harvest arrangement of the free trade agreement with Nicaragua and launched the free trade agreement negotiations Negotiations on the trade zone version 3.0 have also begun, and the negotiation of the free trade agreement with the GCC of the six Gulf countries has made positive progress. Last year, the import and export volume of international trade between China and its FTA partners reached 14.25 trillion yuan, up 7.7% year-on-year, accounting for 34% of the total foreign trade. "

With regard to the official launch of the world's largest free trade zone, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) entered into force on January 1, 2022. "This has injected a strong impetus into the growth of international trade and investment in the region and even in the world. After the entry into force of the agreement, the Ministry of Commerce attached great importance to it and, together with the other five departments, issued the Guiding Opinions on the High-quality Implementation of RCEP, promoting the formation of good experience and innovative practices in the implementation of RCEP in more than 30 provinces, regions and cities." Wang Shouwen further introduced, "We have also carried out a series of work to improve the implementation effect of RCEP. China and other countries have worked together, and now all 15 member countries have ratified this agreement. Last year, China's international trade exports to other members of RCEP increased by 17.5%, accounting for 27.6% of China's total international trade exports. RCEP has played a very important role in our foreign trade development."

In addition, China has also made progress in actively promoting the accession to high standard economic and trade agreements. The Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (CPTPP) and the Digital Economic Partnership Agreement (DEPA) represent the highest international standards in the field of economic and trade rules. Wang Shouwen said: "For CPTPP, China and its members have conducted extensive contacts and exchanges at different levels. For DEPA, we have also had very good communication with its members. On August 18, last year, members of DEPA decided to establish a working group to which China joined. In November last year, three members of DEPA held a four-party ministerial meeting with China, and the four-party held a kick-off meeting of the chief negotiator in December last year. In addition, we attach great importance to the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area We should support and promote some work plans within the APEC framework to push the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area forward. "

At the Central Economic Work Conference held at the end of last year, it was emphasized that we should actively promote the accession to such high-level economic and trade agreements as the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and the Digital Economic Partnership Agreement, and actively deepen the reform in relevant fields in the country in accordance with relevant rules, regulations, management and standards. "In response, the Ministry of Commerce has continued to expand the network of high-standard free trade zones facing the world in accordance with the deployment of the CPC Central Committee, and we are ready to take a series of measures to fully implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress." Wang Shouwen said that three key work will be carried out.

First, seek progress while maintaining stability and improve the comprehensive utilization rate of existing free trade agreements. We should improve the utilization rate of the 19 free trade agreements and give full play to their benefits. "Last year, the comprehensive utilization rate of the 19 free trade agreements was close to 80%, some more than 98%, but the utilization rate of some free trade agreements was still relatively low, so a series of measures should be taken to guide enterprises to use these free trade agreements well and play their role well through training, so as to lay a better foundation for expanding the global network of high-standard free trade areas," said Wang Shouwen.

Second, this year, we will comprehensively promote the negotiation of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Version 3.0, hoping to create new highlights such as digital economy and green economy, so as to make this agreement keep pace with the times and more modern. At the same time, in February this year, China completed a free trade agreement with Ecuador, striving to formally sign and enter into force this year. In addition, we should strive to complete the negotiation of a free trade agreement with Nicaragua this year. "We should also continue to promote the negotiation of free trade agreements with the GCC, Israel and other countries and regions, strive to make greater progress, and carry out the upgrading negotiations of free trade agreements with Peru, South Korea and Singapore, and strive to achieve good results," said Wang Shouwen.

Third, we will continue to promote the process of joining CPTPP and DEPA. Wang Shouwen said that in terms of CPTPP, China's domestic pilot free trade zones will be promoted to deepen domestic reform in relevant fields in accordance with the high standards of CPTPP. "In the area of DEPA, we have made a series of arrangements, including specific ministerial and ministerial negotiations, to strive for China to take substantive steps in joining the DEPA agreement. At the APEC level, we will continue to promote the construction of the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area, make new efforts for regional development, and work with all parties to promote regional economic integration." Wang Shouwen said.