Forum 2012 on China-ASEAN Free Trade Area was held in Nanning, Guangxi on the occasion of ninth session China-ASEAN Expo on September, 21. Mdm. Qiu Hong, Assistant Minister of Commerce, attended and delivered a keynote speech at the Forum. Mdm. Qiu Hong said that China is willing to make joint efforts with ASEAN to continuously push forward the building of free trade area, deepen mutual beneficial cooperation, and promote economic integration in East Asia for a greater success.
Mdm. Qiu Hong pointed out that this year is the tenth anniversary of the signing of Framework Agreement on China-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and China-ASEAN FTA. Over the last ten years, China and ASEAN have worked on a steady development i of the FTA, signed the relevant agreements on trade in goods, trade in services and investment, and implemented of a comprehensive tariff reduction. The fields and the aspects of cooperations have been continually broadened.China has become the largest trading partner of ASEAN for three years in a run, while ASEAN has become China's third largest trading partner. The scale of mutual investment continues to expand. The economic cooperation in the Pan-Beibu Gulf, the cooperation in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, Nanning-Singapore Economic Corridor and other sub-regional economic cooperation develop smoothly. Practice has proved that China-ASEAN Free Trade Area has achieved mutual benefit, which is fully in the common interests of our two sides.
Mdm. Qiu Hong put forward four proposals on further promote the cooperation of FTA: I. Continue to implement the agreement in earnest; China actively raises funds to increase the investment in economic and technical cooperation under the framework of the FTA with ASEAN; works with ASEAN to promote FTA and capacity building and make a better use of preferential policies to benefit more businesses and consumers.II. Further perfect the agreement; According to the new requirements of the economic and trade development, we should timely revise and improve the content of the agreement; promote the openness of the market, enhance liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment. III. Continue to promote industrial cooperation; MOFCOM would continue to encourage and support the cooperation of industrial associations between the sides, optimize the allocation of resources within the region, extend and upgrade the industrial chain, and further encourage two-way investment by building the industrial park and other ways. IV. Actively expand free trade zone; Hong Kong applied in 2011for the entry of the China - ASEAN Free Trade Area. China is willing to work with ASEAN to early start the consultations on Hong Kong’s assession.
Jointly held by MOFCOM, commercial departments from ASEAN countries, ASEAN Secretariat, and the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Forum was themed as deepen cooperation; maintain sustainable development and move towards a higher level of integration. The Forum focuses on the issues of how to expand bilateral trade under the current situation; promoting two-way investment; and strengthening sub-regional cooperation. Leaders and ministers of economy from Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand and other ASEAN countries, and responsible officials from international organizations, renowned scholars, and representatives from commercial groups and enterprises total nearly 1,000 persons attended the Forum.
After the Forum, China and ASEAN issued jointly Statement by Chairman
Of Forum 2012 on China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.
