Over 50 foreign trade cooperation zones established

Chinese businesses have established more than 50 overseas economic and trade cooperation zones in more than 20 countries along the Belt and Road routes, with an accumulative investment of more than US$18 billion, according to Qian Keming, vice minister of commerce, Chinanews.com reported.

In the first 11 months of 2016, China's trade volume with countries involved in the initiative reached US$848.9 billion, accounting for 25.7 percent of the national total in the same period.

To facilitate trade cooperation, the Ministry of Commerce will improve polices to give full play to the functions of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund and attract more funds from commercial banks into the Belt and Road projects.

The ministry will strengthen public services. It will offer "one-stop" services to Chinese businesses and help them learn more about international trade rules.

The authority will also establish more cooperation platforms by hosting trade promotion activities and promoting local areas to establish exhibitions with their own features. It will strengthen the services of overseas institutions in helping Chinese businesses expand overseas economic and trade cooperation.