ACC Secretary-General Attended Seminar on China FTA Development

On 12 of June 2016, the Seminar on China FTA Development co-hosted by the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce of China, the Department of Commerce of Yunnan Province and Yunnan International Exposition Bureau was held in Kunming. About 100 delegates representing national governments, research institutions and media of China, South Asian and Southeast Asian countries attended the Seminar and discussed topics such as the strategy of China FTA, building China-ASEAN FTA and Yunnan’s participation in the world and regional FTA cooperation. ACC Secretary-General Yang Xiuping attended the Seminar and exchanged views with guests about ASEAN-China FTA issues.

Mr. Liu Jing, Deputy Director General of the Department of Commerce of Yunnan Province, and Mr. Wu Tongdiao, Deputy Director of Trade Development Bureau of MOFCOM briefed on China’s measures and achievement in promoting the development of FTA, as well as Yunnan-South Asia and Yunnan-Southeast Asia cooperation. They noted that Chinese Government was committed to formulating a high-quality FTA network with nearby area as a core, stretching to regions alongside the Belt and Road, and looking out to the whole world. The initiative had yielded positive results and played an important role in promoting trade and investment cooperation between China and related countries, and pushing forward in-depth regional development. Yunnan enjoyed geographical advantages for pushing forward the export-oriented economic construction. The development and opening-up of the border area had seen fruitful achievements, while the regional cooperation mechanism had been gradually improved. Yunnan was now actively pursuing the establishment of national FTA pilot area so as to further deepen its opening up and promote mutual benefit and win-win.

Mr. Zhang Yunling, Director of International Studies of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Mr. Xu Ningning, Executive Chairman of China-ASEAN Business Council. delivered speeches on Strategy of China FTA, Opportunity and Challenge for ASEAN-China Upgraded FTA and interacted with the audience.