China News Service, Beijing, January 26 (Reporter Liang Xiaohui) Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference on the 26th that the signing of the protocol to upgrade the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement will promote economic recovery and development in each country under the epidemic situation. This reflects the firm determination of China and New Zealand to support multilateralism and free trade with practical actions.

  A reporter asked a question. On the morning of the 26th, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and New Zealand Minister of Trade and Export Growth O'Connor formally signed the upgrade protocol of the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement on behalf of the two governments respectively.

New Prime Minister Ardern said that China is one of New Zealand's most important trading partners. In the context of the severe impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic on the global economy, the signing of the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement upgrade agreement is of even more special significance.

Does China have any comment on this time?

  Zhao Lijian said that China appreciates Prime Minister Ardern’s remarks and is pleased with the official signing of the upgrade protocol of the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.

The Ministry of Commerce of China has issued a special message on this, "I want to emphasize the following three points."

  First, the 12 years since the implementation of the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement has brought huge and tangible benefits to the two countries and their peoples.

The upgrade of the agreement involves many aspects such as trade in goods, trade in services, investment and regulations. It has realized the quality and efficiency improvement of China-New Zealand free trade cooperation on the basis of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which will definitely help Both parties will further tap the potential of economic and trade cooperation, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and promote the economic recovery and development of their respective countries under the epidemic situation.

  Second, the upgrade of the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement reflects the firm determination of China and New Zealand to support multilateralism and free trade with practical actions.

China is willing to work with New Zealand and other countries to always support economic globalization, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, strive to promote institutional opening of rules, regulations, management, and standards, and continue to build market-oriented, legalized, and internationalized business The environment will provide more impetus for the recovery of the world economy and jointly build an open world economy.

  Third, the upgrade of the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement is an important measure to implement the important consensus of the leaders of China and New Zealand and promote the healthy and stable development of China-New Zealand relations on the existing sound foundation.

China is willing to work with New Zealand to take this free trade agreement upgrade as an opportunity to further enhance mutual trust, expand consensus, strengthen dialogue, and deepen cooperation, so as to promote the continuous new and greater development of China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership.

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