General

In 2020, the RCEP, which lasted eight years and 28 rounds of negotiations, was officially signed, marking the birth of the world's largest free trade zone with a total population, economic volume and total trade volume accounting for about 30% of the world's total. It is particularly commendable that its members have diversified economic levels, including the most developed, relatively developed, developing and locally developed members of various development levels, and have broad cooperation potential, It will profoundly affect a series of important international economic and trade principles, including WTO reform. This is not only another breakthrough in the face of the changing and complex world situation, but also another landmark event in support of multilateralism and free trade.

RCEP was initiated by the ten ASEAN countries, and the 15 member countries include the major countries in East and Southeast Asia. At present, ASEAN has become China's largest trading partner, and China has also become ASEAN's largest trading partner for 10 consecutive years. Other RCEP member countries are also China's important trading partners, with close economic ties. According to customs data, China's total imports and exports to RCEP member countries will account for about 30.9% of China's total imports and exports in 2021. Up to now, the number of effective members among the 15 signing members of RCEP has reached 13.

According to the customs data, after the formal entry into force of RCEP on January 1 this year, a series of economic data in the first half of the year showed that the implementation of RCEP had significantly promoted the economy and trade of all member countries: the trade volume between China and RCEP member countries increased by 5.6% year on year; the customs data showed that China's imports and exports to ASEAN increased by 14% year on year in the first eight months of this year; the customs data showed that the imports and exports of China and the other 14 member countries of RCEP increased by 7.5% year on year in the same period; Chinese export enterprises apply for a RCEP certificate of origin and issue 266000 declarations of origin, with a value of 97.9 billion yuan, and can enjoy a tariff reduction of 710 million yuan from the importing country. According to customs data, the value of preferential imports under RCEP was 23.86 billion yuan, and the tariff reduction was 520 million yuan.

RCEP covers from tariff reduction to non-tariff barriers reduction, from trade in goods to trade facilitation in services, from finance to telecommunications, from trade to investment, from rules of origin to trade facilitation, from intellectual property rights to dispute settlement, from small and medium-sized enterprises to economic and technological cooperation, and integrates ASEAN with China, Japan The multiple "10+1" free trade agreements of South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, as well as the existing multi pair free trade partnership among China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, not only reflect the general direction of high standards in the field of traditional economic and trade rules and new rules such as digital trade, but also establish flexible mechanisms to encourage developing economies, achieve a balance between high standards and applicability, and jointly build high-level economic and trade rules, He made an important demonstration, demonstrating the determination and courage of the 15 member countries, including China, to face the vast Pacific Ocean and globalization, continue to ride the wind and waves and sail far. The sincere efforts of all are worthy of respect.

For example, in terms of trade in goods, the overall level of openness has reached more than 90%, and the commitment to reduce to zero tariff immediately or within ten years; In terms of service trade, except Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, the number of service sectors committed by other parties has increased to more than 100 (160 service sectors divided by WTO), and developing economies are allowed to adopt a positive list model in service trade, but they should gradually transition to a negative list. Among them, China promised to increase the number of service sectors by 22 sectors, including R&D, management consulting, manufacturing related services, and air transport, on the basis of about 100 sectors committed after China's accession to the WTO, and to raise the commitment level of 37 sectors, including finance, law, construction, and maritime transport, to reach the highest level of the existing free trade agreement, and to convert the open positive list into a negative list within six years after the agreement came into force. RCEP has set up many soft clauses in terms of transparency, customs clearance facilitation and other aspects. While giving exceptions to some developing economies, it clearly requires that the opening up can only be further expanded in the future, and the promised opening measures cannot be withdrawn.

As far as China is concerned, the Chinese nation has always had the feelings of the world and an international vision. China can be said to be one of the most important countries to promote the effectiveness of RCEP. We have always been an active participant in the RCEP negotiations. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly called on all parties to reach the RCEP agreement as soon as possible at the opening ceremony of the Expo, the G20 Leaders' Summit, the CICA Summit and other important occasions, and has repeatedly exchanged in-depth views with leaders of relevant countries on RCEP issues. We actively participated in all ministerial negotiations and 28 rounds of technical negotiations with a constructive attitude, and firmly supported ASEAN's leading role in the negotiations. We have taken concrete actions to raise the banner of economic globalization, uphold the right path of multilateralism, and make progress and grow together with the world. The Fifth China International Import Expo is a good example. In the world's only exhibition with import as its theme and extensive participation, import and export are combined in a two-way way, and trade and investment are mutually promoted. As the first major international exhibition held by China after the 20th National Congress, it is a window for China to build a new development pattern, a platform to promote high-level opening, and an international public product shared globally, It fully reflects China's opening up to the outside world in a wider range, broader fields and at a deeper level.