The reporter learned from the Ministry of Commerce that China achieved a new breakthrough in the negotiation and signing of free trade agreements last year. As of the end of January this year, China has signed 22 free trade agreements with 29 countries and regions, accounting for about one-third of China's total foreign trade agreements.
It is understood that last year, China signed a free agreement with Ecuador, Nicaragua and Serbia, signed a protocol with Singapore to further upgrade the China-Singapore free agreement, and substantially completed the early harvest negotiations on the free trade agreement with Honduras.
While the "circle of friends" of free trade is expanding, the content of free trade agreements is also becoming richer. The China-Nicaragua FTA is China's first free trade agreement to open up cross-border services** and investment in the form of a negative list. In the protocol to further upgrade the China-Singapore Liberty Agreement** signed between China and Singapore, the two sides have also made commitments in the form of a negative list to open up services and investment, providing a broader market space for investors and service providers on both sides, and further expanding cooperation in emerging areas such as the digital economy.
The relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Commerce said that this year will continue to promote the construction of a high-standard free zone network and increase the proportion of zero tariff on goods; Comprehensively promote the expansion of the opening up of services** and investment in the form of a negative list, including expanding the opening up of service industries such as telecommunications and medical care, and expanding market access for digital products; At the same time, high-standard economic and trade rules in the digital economy, green economy, standard certification, and procurement will be incorporated into the new free trade negotiations.
*: Xinhua News Agency reporter Pan Jie Xie Xiyao).
Editor: Jin Xin].
*: Xinhua News Agency].