The Ministry of Commerce held a regular press conference on April 6. Spokesman Sun Jiwen answered the hot issues that concern media at home and abroad. Here is the record:

I. Trade and Economic Achievements of President Xi Jinping's Visit to Finland

At the invitation of the President of Finland, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Finland on April 4-6. This is the first time that President Xi Jinping visits the Nordic as the head of state. During the visit, under the joint witness of the two heads of China and Finland, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment signed the Joint Statement on the Establishment of the Sino-Finnish Innovative Enterprise Cooperation Committee under the Framework of A New Type of Partnership for the Future of China and Finland. The task of the China-Finland Innovation and Enterprise Cooperation Committee is to guide and promote innovation and cooperation between enterprises in China and Finland, to study new modes and new ways of innovation and cooperation between the two countries, to put forward policy suggestions for deepening innovation and cooperation in the economic and trade areas of the two countries, and to build a communication platform for the enterprises of the two countries to carry out innovative cooperation.

During the visit, the two sides also signed eight commercial agreements, involving finance, engineering contracting, clean energy, food and other fields.

Finland is friendly to China for a long time, being the first Western country to sign an intergovernmental trade agreement with China. As a founding member of the Asian Investment Bank, Finland actively supports and participates in the Belt and Road initiative. China and Finland are highly complementary in economy and have great potential for cooperation. China has been Finland's largest trading partner in Asia for 13 consecutive years. I believe that this visit will further enhance Sino-Finnish economic and trade cooperation and promote the development of a new type of partnership for the future of China and Finland.

II. The 3rd China-Mauritania Bilateral Trade and Economic Mixed Committee and the 3rd China-Cote d'Ivoire Bilateral Trade and Economic Mixed Committee

On March 22-30, Vice Minister of Commerce Qian Keming led the economic and trade delegation of the Chinese government to visit Mauritania and Cote d'Ivoire. The visit aimed at implementing the outcome of the 6th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Johannesburg Summit, and docked the "Top Ten Cooperation Programs" announced by President Xi Jinping at the conference.

During the visit, the new trade and economic mixed committee conference between China and Mauritania, and China and C?te d'Ivoire was held. An agreement on economic and technological cooperation and an exchange of letters on medical facilities and government office buildings were signed. The two sides also exchanged views in the key cooperation fields and cooperation projects of the "Top Ten Cooperation Programs," and reached a positive consensus.

The two countries expressed their appreciation for China's earnest commitment to implementing the achievements of the forum and said that they would keep close cooperation with China to jointly promote the implementation of the "Top Ten Cooperation Plans" in the two countries so that the peoples of the two countries can be benefited timely.

In recent years, the China-Mauritania and China-Cote d'Ivoire economic and trade cooperation enjoyed a rapid development. The bilateral trade volume between China and Mauritania has increased from US$1.25 billion at the 2010 mixed committee to US$ 1.61 billion in 2016. The economic and technological cooperation between the two sides has been fruitful and nearly 50 projects such as friendship port, stadium, water supply, agriculture and animal husbandry, hospitals and schools have been built, and nearly 900 talents have been trained for Mauritania. At the same time, China has become the main trading partner, the source of investment and contractors of C?te d'Ivoire. The bilateral trade volume in 2016 reached US$1.67 billion. I believe that the successful holding of this mixed committee will further promote China and the two countries' economic and trade cooperation in a deeper and broader field of development.

III. SaoTome and Principe Join the Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries

China, Sao Tome and Principe have resumed their diplomatic relations on December 26 last year. According to the application of Sao Tome and Principe, and after asking for opinions of the parties of the Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries, the permanent secretariat of China-Portuguese Forum held the 12th regular meeting on March 29, the participating parties all agreed to the joining of Sao Tome and Principe in China-Portuguese Forum. Up to now, the “friend circle” of China-Portuguese Forum has included all the countries in the world whose official language is Portuguese.

China-Portuguese Forum was an international economic and trade forum launched by the Chinese government in 2003 with the theme of economic cooperation and development. In October last year, Premier Li Keqiang attended the fifth Ministerial meeting of China-Portuguese Forum, and the participating countries jointly signed the Economic and Trade Action Guideline (2017-2019) and the Memorandum of Understanding on Promoting Capacity Cooperation, pointing out the direction for the economic and trade cooperation between China and the Portuguese speaking countries in the future 3 years and even longer time. Next, under the framework of China-Portuguese Forum and while making full play of the platform role of Macao, we are willing to, we jointly build a more solid economic and trade relation with Portuguese speaking countries including SaoTome and Principe, and join hands to make an example of friendly cooperation between countries of different social system, different development stage and different cultural background.

IV. About the Economic and Trade Issues during the Visit of Myanmar’s President U Htin Kyaw to China

Invited by President Xi Jinping, Myanmar’s President U Htin Kyaw will make a state visit to China on April 6-11. This is the first time for President U Htin Kyaw to visit China.

China and Myanmar are friendly neighbors, and also important economic and trade cooperation partners. Bilateral economic and trade cooperation enjoys broad prospect and has been witnessing a good development trend since last year. In January-February 2017, the trade volume between China and Myanmar was US$ 1.9 billion, up 2% year on year; China’s total investment in Myanmar was US$ 130 million, up 672% year on year largely. The two countries enjoy great cooperation potential of economic and trade cooperation. In January 2017, the China-Myanmar Joint Committee of Economy and Trade was held in Beijing, and the two countries reached extensive consensus on further promoting bilateral economic and trade development.

China is willing to take the opportunity of the meeting of the two leaders, to further promote China-Myanmar practical economic and trade cooperation, to push forward the cooperation of the enterprises of the two countries on port, industrial parks, transportation infrastructure, energy, medical care and agriculture to gain positive progress, to strengthen bilateral trade and investment cooperation, and to bolster the sustainable, healthy and stable development of bilateral economic and trade relation.

V. Special Action Meeting on Expanding Consumption of Domestic Trade Circulation

On March 31-April 1, MOFCOM held a Special Project on Accelerating Domestic Trade Innovation to Promote Supply-side Structural Reform and Expand Consumption and National Market Order Work Conference.

Minister Zhong Shan said at the meeting that domestic trade circulation is the preliminary and leading industry of national economy. To do domestic trade circulation work well is the need to adapt to, to understand and to lead the new normal of economic development. It is also to promote supply-side structural reform, to safeguard and to improve people’s life. At present and in a period of time from now on, commerce authorities will stress on expanding consumption through domestic trade circulation, and will undertake to work to “optimize commodity, clear the ways, reduce burden and establish credit” so as to expand and upgrade consumption.

To “optimize commodity” is to play domestic trade’s role as the “signal light,” bridge and bond. It is also to conduct study on major commodity, means of production materials and service supply and demand, to find out the base of mismatch of supply and demand, to take measures of information guidance and management innovation to optimize supply, and to expand efficient supply of life service like catering and housekeeping.

To “clear ways” is to encourage and support integration innovation, to share innovation and smart innovation, and to focus on “smooth” to unblock circulation channels. Work will be made to conduct “Internet+circulation” action, retail transformation and upgrading, and to integrate channels both online and offline. Accelerate the construction of national integrated backbone distribution network and infrastructure and connect urban and rural areas. Break regional blockades, develop cross-border e-commerce, attract the back-flow of overseas consumption and open up both domestic and overseas markets.

To “reduce burden” is to lower distribution cost and bring real benefits to consumers. Further efforts will be made to reduce fees and taxes, and to deepen reforms of “delegating power, fair supervision and efficient service” to lower institutional cost. Use modern information technology to promote logistics standardization and to lower technology cost. Fully launch “connectivity of agriculture and commerce” to improve the integration of supply chain and collaborative efficiency and reduce organization cost.

To “establish credit” is to accelerate the construction of credit-centered market supervision system and to optimize consumption environment. Establish and perfect administrative management information sharing mechanism, market-oriented comprehensive credit assessment mechanism and the third party credit assessment mechanism; quicken up the building of major commodity traceability system and rectify consumption environment.

Question: Witnessed by the two heads of government, Chinese Commerce Minister Zhong Shan and the Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo signed a declaration of intent concerning the China-Australia FTA in Canberra on March 24. Can you give us more information on that?

Answer: Premier Li Keqiang made a successful official visit to Australia from 22nd to 26th, March, 2017. The two sides signed the Declaration of Intent on the Deliberation of Related Contents of China-Australia FTA, announcing officially that the two countries will start the deliberation on the service chapter, the investment chapter of ChAFTA and the MOU on Investment Facilitation Arrangement in 2017. This lays the ground for launching “upgrading negotiations” of ChAFTA in due time.

Having come into effect on Dec. 20, 2015, ChAFTA has delivered remarkable results in a wide range of areas and a lot of “positive energy”.

First, policy dividends have promoted trade in goods. So far, the two sides have implemented three tariff cuts. In 2016, over 85% of two-way merchandise trade benefited from tariff concessions provided in the Agreement. Those exports that China enjoys a competitive edge such as mechanical and electronic products and toys saw rapid growth while China’s imports from Australia such as agricultural and health care products also registered fast growth. The import of health care products has increased by 9 times, fresh fruits doubled and wine grown by nearly 40%.

Second, there are various bright spots in trade in services. Australia has become one of the top choices of China’s outbound tourists. In 2016, 1.3 million Chinese tourists traveled to Australia as their first stop. Australia’s working holiday visa is welcomed by young people in China. In 2016, the 5000-visa quota was all used up. Chinese financial institutions have also set up their branches in Australia.

Third, two-way investment has been growing rapidly. The signing of the ChAFTA gives reassurances to Chinese businesses investing in Australia. In 2016, Chinese companies made a total direct investment of USD 3.68 billion in Australia, up by 56% year on year.

Both China and Australia are vocal advocates of economic globalization and free trade. We are willing to work together with Australia to implement and improve the FTA, deepen our commercial ties, safeguard the multilateral trading system and jointly advance economic globalization and free trade.

Question: How are the upgrading negotiations of the China-New Zealand FTA going on?

Answer: During Premier Li Keqiang’s official visit to New Zealand from March 26th to 29th, the two prime ministers jointly declared that the first round of China-New Zealand FTA upgrading negotiations will be launched shortly.

China-New Zealand FTA is China’s first FTA with a developed country. Since its signing in 2008, it has gone a long way in promoting bilateral trade and economic relations. The two sides agreed to hold the first round of upgrading negotiations in Beijing from April 25th to 27th. We believe these negotiations will give new impetus to our commercial relations, bring benefits to our businesses and people and further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Q: We noted that the State Council has decided that contractors of overseas projects will no longer be subject to qualifications approval. Could you elaborate on this?

A: In March 2013, Premier Li Keqiang pledged that this administration will free one third of items from administrative approval. MOFCOM is fully committed to “delegating power, combining devolution with regulation, and improving government services”, and take it as a critical element in deepening reform in an all-round way, especially in the supply-side structural reform. We have made huge efforts to abolish and adjust items that are subject to administrative approval, strengthen interim and ex-post regulation, create new administration models, and build sound business environment.

Up to now, we have abolished and revised 13 administrative items, which represent 41.9% of the total. Among the abolished items, a large part is about such critical areas as domestic trade and circulation, foreign trade, foreign investment, overseas investment, and foreign aid. This is well-received by the public.

On March 21st, the State Council decided to cancel the administrative approval for contractors of overseas project. This is an incentive for the businesses. We will enhance regulation in the process and afterwards and keep the industry in good order.

In the next step, we will promote the “internet plus government service” strategies, optimize the online procedures for application, provide the utmost convenience to the business community and the general public, and build sound business environment.

Q: MOFOCM has published a list of national farmers’ markets for public welfare. Could you elaborate on this?

A: Recently, MOFCOM has published a list of 31 framers’ markets for public welfare, and popularized 19 replicable models in ten aspects. This is an important phased achievement in our efforts to build farmers’ markets for public welfare.

Since MOFCOM and other authorities launched the program in 2014, China has built 253 wholesale and 5,291 retail farmers’ markets, both for public welfare in nature. They form a network with Chinese characteristics that covers medium and large cities in the country. We have gained replicable experiences, effectively tackled the supply-demand mismatch of agricultural products, and helped the public access affordable and safe vegetables. These markets benefit the public in that they help ensure supply, stabilize the price, safeguard safety, and protect the environment. Starting from this year, we will expand the pilot program and promote it fully. In the next step, we will guide cities to copy the classic examples and models, make greater innovations, substantiate the long-term program, and deliver tangible benefits to the public.

(All information published in this website is authentic in Chinese. English is provided for reference only. )