31st Meeting of "Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement" Standing Committee was held in Bangkok from February 25 to 27. Positive progress was made at the Meeting . Six Member States of China, Bangladesh, India, Korea, Laos and Sri Lanka sent delegates to the Meeting. Bilateral negotiations on 4th-round tariff concessions as provided by the "Agreement" was held the third time, and consensus were reached on such issues as service trade , investment, framework agreements on trade facilitation, and rules of origin after in-depth discussions.

The "Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement", known as "Bangkok Agreement" signed in 1975, was a preferential trading arrangement for developing countries under the Asia-Pacific Economic and Social Commission of the United Nations. Through years of hard work by the Member countries, cooperation under the framework of the Agreement has been strengthening, and the economic and trade relations becoming closer. At present, the members are speeding up the 4th round of negotiations of the "agreement". In order to achieve the dual objective of greater tariff concessions and extending the field of negotiations.