On May 9-10, the 55th Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement Standing Committee Meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand. The Chinese delegation attended the meeting. At the meeting, the participant parties had in-depth discussion on the negotiation mode of the 5th round of tariff concession, and issues on trade in services, investment, trade facilitation and rules of origin.

The Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement is a preferential trade arrangement reached among the developing countries, being presided over by the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, with 6 member countries including China, India, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Laos. Mongolia is going through its domestic approval procedure for entering Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement. China joined the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement officially in 2001.