MNI POLICY: China Urges Closer Coordination on Trade Policies

By Archie Zhang

     BEIJING (MNI) - China has called on the rest of the world to increase

coordination of economic and trade policies to ensure global logistics function

properly and that trade, industrial and supply chains remain secure and open,

Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen said at a press conference on Monday. 

     The members of the World Trade Organization should oppose unilateralism and

protectionism, Wang added.  

     Here are other points from the press conference by commerce officials

including Wang and Minister Zhong Shan:

     - China has shortened the administration process for tax rebates, helped

110,000 companies obtain credit and insurance and made easier for companies to

sell export products to the domestic consumers, said Zhong.

     - China has sought to offset weakening demand from western economies by

expanding trade with ASEAN nations, now its largest trading partner area, and

countries under China's Belt and Road scheme, said Zhong.

     - China will further open up service industries to foreign capital and

continue to reduce restrictions on foreign investments. China will encourage

foreign companies to invest in the less-developed central and western China and

industrial rustbelt in the northeast, Zhong said.

     - The negotiations of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership are

expected to complete by June and the pact can be signed at the next leadership

summit this year, according to Wang. 

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: archie.zhang@marketnews.com

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 10 8532 5998; email: william.bi@mni-news.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

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