The Ministry of Commerce held a regular press conference at 15:00 on Thursday, February 17, 2022. Gao Feng, deputy director of the General Office of the Ministry of Commerce and press spokesman, attended the meeting to introduce the relevant situation and answer questions from the media.
The following is the transcript of the press conference
peak
Dear journalists,
Good afternoon, and welcome to the regular press conference of the Ministry of Commerce. I have no information today that I need to proactively inform you. I would like to answer the questions raised by my journalist friends.
I would now like to ask questions.
China News Service reporter:
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Mexico, how does the Ministry of Commerce evaluate the achievements of economic and trade cooperation between China and Mexico in recent years? What measures will be taken in the next step to promote economic and trade cooperation between the two countries to a higher level?
In the 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Mexico, especially since the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in 2013, the development of bilateral relations has entered the fast lane, and mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation has yielded fruitful results. Mexico is China's second largest trading partner in Latin America, China is Mexico's second largest trading partner in the world, and the bilateral trade volume between China and Mexico hit a record high in 2021, an increase of 41.9% year-on-year to $86.6 billion. Mexico is an important contracting market and investment destination for China in Latin America, and cooperation between the two sides in the fields of transportation infrastructure, processing and manufacturing, telecommunications, traditional energy and clean energy is progressing smoothly. China-Mexico anti-epidemic cooperation has been fruitful, and China has provided full support for the procurement of vaccines and anti-epidemic materials in Mexico.
On February 14, President Xi Jinping and Mexican President López López exchanged congratulatory messages to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In the next step, China is willing to make joint efforts with the Mexican side, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state and taking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity, strengthen the docking of development plans, consolidate cooperation in traditional advantageous areas, actively expand cooperation in emerging industries such as green development, digital economy and electric vehicles, promote trade and investment facilitation, strengthen regional and multilateral cooperation, promote common development, and continuously enrich the connotation of the China-Mexico comprehensive strategic partnership to better benefit the two countries and the two peoples. Thank you.
Phoenix TV reporter:
The U.S. Trade Representative's office said in a new assessment report Wednesday that the U.S. needs to pursue new strategies and update its domestic trade tools to address China's "government-led, non-market policies and practices." What is China's response to this? How does the Department of Commerce view the current U.S. trade policy toward China? Has the economic and trade teams of the two sides communicated recently?
The US side labeled China as "non-market-oriented", claiming that China's relevant policies and practices violate the principles of market economy and lead to unfair competition. This lacks both a basis for international economic and trade rules and is completely inconsistent with the facts. Globally, there are different models of market economy. The success of China's economy over the past 40 years or so is the success of the reform and opening up policy, as well as the success of the effective combination of the role of the market mechanism and the role of the government. This is a valuable experience in China's economic development.
We note that the US side seeks to update its expression of domestic trade instruments. We believe that the United States, as a member of the WTO, should make its trade instruments conform to the WTO rules, rather than developing another set of unilateralism, protectionism, and bullying in the name of seeking a new strategy.
China and the United States share huge common interests, and cooperation is the only right choice. It is hoped that the US side will adopt a rational and pragmatic economic and trade policy toward China, move in the same direction as China, and promote Sino-US relations to return to the correct track of healthy and stable development based on the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit and win-win results. This not only conforms to the fundamental interests of China and the United States and the two peoples, but also is the common expectation of the international community.
At present, the economic and trade teams of the two sides maintain normal communication. Thank you.
First Financial Daily reporter:
Some analysts said that for most of this year, the global supply of some raw materials will still be constrained. For the prospect of rising raw material prices and difficult supply this year, how will the Ministry of Commerce help foreign trade enterprises to effectively cope?
For some time, due to the impact of the epidemic and other factors, the global industrial chain supply chain has been disordered, which has had a great impact on enterprises and consumers in various countries. The Ministry of Commerce will work with localities and relevant departments to take multiple measures to ensure the stability and smoothness of the supply chain of the foreign trade industry chain. Actively guide enterprises to make full use of various policies and measures, promote import diversification, strengthen international cooperation, build mutually beneficial and win-win raw material trade channels, help foreign trade enterprises further strengthen the upstream and downstream collaboration of the industrial chain supply chain, reduce comprehensive costs, and enhance their competitiveness. At the same time, in accordance with the deployment of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, together with relevant departments, we will guide all localities to continue to optimize the business environment, implement measures such as tax reduction and fee reduction, continue to control problems such as arbitrary charges, and support the stable development of foreign trade enterprises. Thank you.
The Paper's reporter:
According to reports, the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued a ban on 54 apps on the grounds of "security threats" on the 14th, most of which are products of Chinese companies, and on the 15th, the Indian tax department searched a number of places of certain Chinese-funded enterprises in India. Regarding India's recent frequent actions against Chinese enterprises, what is the response of the Ministry of Commerce to this?
For some time now, the relevant departments of the Indian side have taken a series of measures to suppress Chinese enterprises and related products in India, seriously harming the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
We note that foreign investors, including Chinese companies, are deepening their concerns about India's investment climate. Foreign investors have created a large number of local jobs in India and made a positive contribution to india's economic development. It is hoped that the Indian side will improve the business environment and treat all foreign investors, including Chinese enterprises, fairly, transparently and non-discriminatorily.
China and India are inseparable neighbors and are each other's important economic and trade partners. In 2021, the bilateral trade volume between China and India reached US$125.7 billion, an increase of 43% year-on-year, breaking through the US$100 billion mark for the first time. The economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has strong resilience and great potential. It is hoped that the Indian side will take practical measures to maintain the good development momentum of bilateral economic and trade cooperation and benefit the two countries and peoples. Thank you.
Cover Reporter:
Recently, the State Council issued the "Reply on Agreeing to Establish Cross-border E-commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zones in 27 Cities and Regions including Ordos", agreeing to set up cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zones in 27 cities and regions such as Ordos City, Yangzhou City, Zhenjiang City, etc. What is the pattern of the mainland cross-border e-commerce comprehensive test zone after this expansion? How will the Ministry of Commerce guide the differentiated competition of the comprehensive test areas and promote the high-quality development of the comprehensive test areas?
In recent years, cross-border e-commerce in the mainland has developed rapidly. According to customs statistics, since 2017, the scale of cross-border e-commerce in the mainland has increased by nearly 10 times in five years, and the import and export volume will reach 1.98 trillion yuan in 2021, an increase of 15% year-on-year. In order to further promote the development of cross-border e-commerce, the State Council recently approved the establishment of new cross-border e-commerce comprehensive test zones in 27 cities and regions. Up to now, a total of 132 cross-border e-commerce comprehensive test areas have been set up nationwide. From the layout point of view, there are three main characteristics: First, the coverage is wide. It has basically covered the whole country, forming a development pattern of land, sea and domestic linkage, and two-way mutual benefit between east and west. Second, the regional focus is prominent. Achieve full coverage of major foreign trade provinces such as Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang and municipalities directly under the central government such as Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Chongqing. Third, the development gradient is rich. There are both coastal cities along the border and inland hub cities; there are both cities with obvious foreign trade advantages and cities with outstanding industrial characteristics, and the comprehensive test area will play a more active role in promoting the high-level opening up of the region.
In the next step, the Ministry of Commerce will continue to work with relevant departments to grasp the implementation of relevant work. The first is to speed up the establishment of new comprehensive test zones in combination with local foreign trade and industrial characteristics, formulate specific work plans and organize their implementation, and strive for early results. At the same time, we will improve the evaluation and exit mechanism of the comprehensive test area to dynamically adjust and promote the survival of the fittest. The second is to improve supporting policies. Optimize the list of cross-border e-commerce retail imports, facilitate the management of cross-border e-commerce import and export return and exchange, and study and formulate guidelines for the protection of cross-border e-commerce intellectual property rights. The third is to continue to promote the construction of rules and standards, strengthen the cultivation of market players, strengthen brand building, and promote high-quality development. The fourth is to promote the application of digital intelligent technology. Guide each comprehensive test area to rely on cross-border e-commerce offline industrial parks, promote the use of digital technology and digital tools, optimize and upgrade the whole process and links of foreign trade, promote the deep integration of trade and industry, and improve the foreign trade industry chain and ecosystem. Fifth, continue to deepen international cooperation. Continue to deepen the cooperation of "Silk Road e-commerce". Strengthen intergovernmental cooperation with relevant countries in relevant fields and promote two-way opening up. Actively participate in the formulation of international rules and contribute more Chinese wisdom. Thank you.
Global Times English reporter:
What progress is expected from China's accession to CPTPP and DEPA this year? What other steps will the Ministry of Commerce take to promote the signing of more free trade agreements?
With regard to china's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), China has conducted a full, comprehensive and in-depth study and assessment of the contents of the Agreement. Through reform, China is willing to strive to fully meet the standards of the CPTPP rules and make a high-level commitment to openness in the field of market access that exceeds China's existing contracting practice, so as to provide members with market access opportunities with huge commercial interests. At present, China is in accordance with the relevant procedures for accession to the CPTPP and engaging in contacts and consultations with members.
Regarding accession to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), China is currently maintaining close communication and technical consultations with relevant Parties. China is willing to provide cooperation opportunities and broad markets for DEPA member enterprises, close the ties of mutual digital economy cooperation, and contribute to promoting innovation and sustainable development among members.
On the issue of signing more free trade agreements, through nearly 20 years of efforts, the mainland's free trade "circle of friends" has been expanding, and the content of free trade agreements has become increasingly rich and the level has been continuously improved. Up to now, the mainland has signed 19 free trade agreements with 26 countries and regions, and its free trade partners cover Asia, Oceania, Latin America, Europe and Africa. The trade volume between the mainland and its free trade partners accounts for about 35% of the total foreign trade. In 2021, the total import and export volume of the mainland and the FTA partners that have entered into force will total 10.8 trillion yuan, an increase of 23.6% year-on-year, which is 2.2 and 2.4 percentage points higher than the overall growth rate of the mainland's foreign trade and the growth rate of imports and exports with non-FTA partners in the same period. In the next step, in accordance with the deployment of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, we will promote the expansion, quality improvement and efficiency of the mainland free trade zone network, and build a new development pattern of services. We will continue to promote the negotiation of free trade agreements such as China-GCC, China-Israel, China-Norway, China-Ecuador, China, Japan and the ROK, sign free trade agreements with more willing trading partners, and jointly promote regional economic integration and trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. Further enhance the level of free trade agreements. Increase the zero tariff ratio of trade in goods, relax market access for trade in services and investment, and actively participate in negotiations on new topics such as digital economy and environmental protection. At the same time, efforts will be made to promote the comprehensive utilization rate of ftas, further enhance effectiveness, and make FTAs better and faster benefit enterprises and people of relevant countries. Thank you.
Do you still have any questions? If there are no questions, this concludes today's press conference, thank you!
Editor: Li Dandan
Reviewers: Wang Ya, Li Dandan, Zhang Yingxue