Positive progress was made at the 32nd Session of Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) Standing Committee held on 27th-29th May 2009 in Bangkok. 6 member countries, China, Bangladesh, India, Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic and Sri Lanka, sent delegations to this Session，and mutual consultations were made for the fourth time at the fourth-round tariff concession negotiations. Consensus over framework agreement on service trade, investment, trade facilitation, non-tariff measures and rules of origin were reached following in-depth consultations.

The Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), previously named the Bangkok Agreement, was signed in 1975 as an initiative of ESCAP, is a preferential tariff arrangement that aims at promoting intra-regional trade through exchange of mutually agreed concessions by member countries. Through unremitting efforts of the member countries over the years, cooperation under the framework of APTA has been increasingly strengthened and economic and trade relations have become more and more close. At present, the member countries are pressing on the fourth round negotiation of APTA, aiming at the dual objectives of deepening tariff concessions and expanding negotiation fields.