China accelerates FTA negotiations with 13 underway

China is now engaged in 13 free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the China-Japan-ROK FTA, the China-Norway FTA, the China-Israel FTA, the China-Panama FTA, and the China-Singapore FTA upgrade, said Gao Feng, spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), quoted by the Xinhua-run Economic Information Daily on Monday.

In addition, China is also conducting joint research of the FTA feasibility or upgrade with ten countries, Gao added.

China hopes to build a high-standard free trade area network that is in line with its own development level, and work with free trade partners to enhance the level of liberalization and facilitation of goods, services and investment, jointly cultivate global markets, further promote the construction of an open world economy, and make contributions to stable and healthy development of the global economy, said Gao.

Since 2002, China has signed 16 FTAs with 24 countries and regions, with its free trade partners throughout Asia, Oceania, South America and Europe.

Recently, the country has been vigorously promoting the FTA negotiations.

From July 22 to 27, the 23rd round of RCEP negotiations was held in Bangkok, Thailand.

On July 13, a China-ROK FTA negotiation was held in Beijing. The two sides held further consultations on service trade and investment, and made positive progress in the negotiation.

From July 4 to July 6, the seventh round of negotiations on the China-Singapore FTA upgrade was held in Beijing. The two sides held consultations on issues such as service trade, investment, and rules of origin, trade relief and economic cooperation.