MNI BRIEF: China Wants More Free Trade Partners: MOFCOM

China will look expand the scope of its free trade network, hopefully bringing in Japan and South Korea, as Beijing pursues an increased opening up, said Gao Feng, spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce at a regular briefing on Thursday.

"China will speed up the negotiation of the China-Japan-Korea free trade agreement, promote the free trade negotiation process with the Gulf Cooperation Council, Israel and Norway, and actively consider joining the CPTPP," said Gao.

China will participate in negotiations related to setting new rules for the digital economy and environmental protection, said Gao, adding that the country will implement zero-tariffs on more goods while further relaxing service trade and investment access.

Gao noted that China's outbound direct investment (ODI) was USD132.94 billion in 2020, a rise of 3.3% from a year earlier, among which non-financial ODI accounts for USD110.15 billion.