General

New trends in international trade! "The CPC Central Committee attaches great importance to the construction of free trade zones and free trade agreements. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the circle of friends of China's free trade zones has been expanding, and a network of free trade agreements based on the surrounding areas, radiating the 'the Belt and Road' and facing the world has been initially established." Wang Shouwen, the international trade negotiator and vice minister of the Ministry of Commerce, said at a news conference held by the State Council recently that China had built 10 free trade zones before the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, There are 18 free trade partners. In the ten years after the 18th CPC National Congress, China has added 9 free trade zones and 8 free trade partners.

The reporter learned that China made some new progress in the construction of free trade zones last year. The upgrading protocol of the Free Trade Agreement between China and Cambodia and the New Zealand Free Trade Agreement has entered into force; Signed the early harvest arrangement of the free trade agreement with Nicaragua, and started the negotiation of the free trade agreement with Nicaragua; Negotiations with the ASEAN Free Trade Area Version 3.0 have also begun; The negotiation of a free trade agreement with the GCC of the six Gulf countries has made positive progress. And the world's largest free trade area, RCEP, officially set sail last year. After the entry into force of these free trade agreements, they have played a very important role in promoting China's international trade. Last year, the import and export volume of international trade between China and its free trade agreement partners reached 14.25 trillion yuan, up 7.7% year-on-year, accounting for 34% of the total foreign trade.

Wang Shouwen said that China has also made progress in actively promoting its accession to the High-standard Economic and Trade Agreement. The Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (CPTPP) and the Digital Economic Partnership Agreement (DEPA) represent the highest standards of international trade in the field of economic and trade rules. For CPTPP, China and its members have conducted extensive contacts and exchanges at different levels. For DEPA, China has also had a very good communication with its members. On August 18 last year, DEPA decided to establish a working group for China to join. Last November, the three members of DEPA and China held a ministerial meeting of the Quartet. Last December, the Quartet held a kick-off meeting of the chief negotiators. In addition, China attaches great importance to the construction of the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area and supports the promotion of some work plans within the framework of APEC to push the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area forward.

New trends in international trade! The Twentieth National Congress proposed to "expand the global network of high-standard free trade zones". Last year's Central Economic Work Conference also stressed that "we should actively promote the accession to high standard economic and trade agreements such as CPTPP and DEPA, and take the initiative to deepen the reform of relevant domestic fields in comparison with relevant rules, regulations, management and standards".

"In this regard, we are ready to take a series of measures to fully implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress." Wang Shouwen said, first, to seek progress while maintaining stability and improve the comprehensive utilization rate of existing free trade agreements. Last year, the comprehensive utilization rate of the 19 free trade agreements was close to 80%, some more than 98%, but some were still relatively low. Therefore, a series of measures should be taken to guide enterprises to make good use of these free trade agreements through training and give full play to their role, so as to lay a better foundation for expanding the global network of high-standard free trade areas.

Second, this year we should comprehensively promote the negotiation of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Version 3.0 to create new highlights such as digital economy and green economy. In February this year, China and Ecuador have completed the negotiation of the free trade agreement, and strive to formally sign and enter into force this year. Strive to complete the negotiation of the free trade agreement with Nicaragua this year. Continue to promote the negotiation of free trade agreements with the GCC, Israel and other countries. The upgrading negotiations of some free trade agreements with Peru, South Korea and Singapore also strive to achieve good results.

Third, China will continue to promote the process of joining CPTPP and DEPA. In terms of CPTPP, China will take the initiative to deepen the reform of relevant domestic fields in comparison with the rules of CPTPP. In terms of DEPA, a series of arrangements have also been made, including specific ministerial and ministerial negotiations, so as 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 and work with all parties to promote regional economic integration.