[Commentary] On February 24, the State Information Office held a press conference on accelerating high-quality business development and building a new development pattern in services.
Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao stated at the meeting that the China-EU investment agreement negotiations have been completed as scheduled by the end of 2020.
At present, the two parties are carrying out the review and translation of the text, and in accordance with the established procedures, strive to sign as soon as possible.
[Concurrent] Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce
Under the impact of the 2020 epidemic, our trade volume with the EU increased by 4.9%, reaching $649.5 billion.
For the first time, China has become the EU's largest trading partner.
This investment agreement is a high-level, balanced, mutually beneficial and win-win agreement. This is not only beneficial to China but also to the European Union, but also to the recovery and growth of the world economy. This is a win-win situation.
At present, the two parties are carrying out the review and translation of the text, and strive to sign as soon as possible in accordance with the established procedures.
[Explanation] Wang Wentao said that China-EU cooperation is far greater than competition. Both sides should expand their common interests in cooperation and solve problems in development.
China is willing to continue to strengthen anti-epidemic cooperation with the European side, jointly promote China-EU pragmatic cooperation in economic and trade, green and digital fields, maintain the stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain, and help the recovery and growth of the world economy after the epidemic.
At the meeting, when talking about how the Ministry of Commerce views the trend of Sino-US economic and trade relations in the next stage, Wang Wentao said that the essence of Sino-US economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and cooperation is the only correct choice.
[Concurrent] Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce
In 2020, despite the sluggish performance of global trade affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, trade between China and the United States has bucked the trend in a difficult situation.
China is the largest trading partner of the United States, and the bilateral trade and investment cooperation between the two sides has made positive contributions to their respective economic recovery.
In the next stage, I also look forward to our joint efforts with colleagues in the United States to strengthen communication, enhance understanding, focus on cooperation, manage differences, and push bilateral economic and trade relations back to the track of cooperation.
[Explanation] In addition, when talking about the construction of the “Belt and Road” project under the epidemic, Qian Keming, Vice Minister of Commerce, said that in 2020, facing the new crown pneumonia epidemic and other unfavorable factors, China and relevant countries will help each other and overcome the difficulties together. Promoting the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" has achieved new progress and new results.
[Concurrent] Qian Keming, Vice Minister of Commerce
The annual trade volume of goods with countries along the route was US$1.35 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 0.7%.
Non-financial direct investment in countries along the route was US$17.79 billion, an increase of 18.3% year-on-year, which is even higher.
Among them, China-Laos Railway, Yawan Railway, China-Belarus Industrial Park, etc., these major projects have also made positive progress.
[Explanation] Qian Keming said that the next step, the Ministry of Commerce will focus on building a new development pattern, improving trade quality, innovating investment cooperation, creating platform carriers, strengthening mechanism construction, focusing on "Belt and Road" economic and trade cooperation, and promoting the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative. Quality development.
Reporter Liu Xuanting reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: [Ji Xiang]