China News Service, Beijing, December 19 (Reporter Li Xiaoyu) The Central Economic Work Conference that closed on the 18th proposed that it actively consider joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Compared with the previous official wording of "positive and open attitude towards joining CPTPP", this new statement is more clear.
Wei Jianguo, former vice minister of the Ministry of Commerce of China, said in an interview with a reporter from China News Agency that now is the best time for China to join the CPTPP.
He said that at a time when the epidemic has caused a serious impact on the global economy, and external instability and uncertainty have greatly increased, China's active consideration of joining the CPTPP has profound meaning.
This move shows that after the successful signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), which gave birth to a giant free trade agreement covering about 30% of the world’s population, economic output, and total trade volume, China remains determined to continue to open up Constantly, this is not only focusing on the needs of stabilizing economic growth and promoting the high-quality development of the country’s economy, but also taking practical actions to defend free trade, inject new impetus into the recovery of the global economy and the maintenance of economic globalization.
"China has said before that for any regional free trade agreement, as long as it conforms to the WTO principles, is open, inclusive, and transparent, and is conducive to promoting economic globalization and regional economic integration, China welcomes it. Clearly and actively consider joining the CPTPP only From the beginning, in the future, China will also promote the conclusion or participation of more high-level trade and investment agreements, and earnestly assume the responsibility of maintaining trade liberalization and facilitation." Wei Jianguo said.
In Wei Jianguo's view, another deep meaning of China's clear and active consideration of joining the CPTPP is to show its determination to reform internally.
He said frankly that compared with RCEP, CPTPP has higher requirements in many aspects. Joining CPTPP means that China has to be in line with internationally accepted rules in many aspects such as government procurement, subsidies, and operation of state-owned enterprises. Carry out in-depth reforms.
Joining the CPTPP will, to a certain extent, force China's domestic reforms to deepen and play the role of "promoting reform through opening up."
Wei Jianguo said that in addition to actively considering joining the CPTPP, China should also build a market-oriented, legalized, and internationalized market system as soon as possible to expand high-level opening up. This system should fully reflect transparency, openness, and the rule of law, and treat domestic and foreign companies equally, so that they can truly compete fairly on the same starting line and enjoy equal rights, equal rules, and equal opportunities. In addition, we should accelerate the creation of the world's best business environment on the existing basis and stabilize investor expectations. (Finish)