Friends from the press: Good afternoon. Welcome to the regular online press conference of MOFCOM. With no announcements to make today, I’d like to take your questions. The floor is open.

CNS: We have noted that recently MOFCOM abolished the administrative measures for crude oil market and refined oil products market. What are the considerations behind the abolishment? What will be done to ensure proper administration of the market of crude oil and refined oil products?

The recently abolished administrative measures for crude oil market and refined oil products market were introduced by MOFCOM in 2006, which played a positive role in maintaining the order of the domestic market circulation of oil and refined oil products.

Last August, the General Department of the State Council issued the Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Circulation and Promoting Commercial Consumption, in which the approval for the qualification for wholesale and storage of oil and refined oil products was removed and the authority of approving retailing of refined oil products was delegated to governments at prefecture level. Following the requirements of the State Council’s reform of streamlining administration, delegating power and improving services, MOFOM issued the Notice on Implementing the Reform of Streamlining Administration, Delegating Power and Improving Services for the Management of Circulation of Oil and Refined Oil Products, guiding local authorities to ensure the smooth policy connection for relevant approval cancelation and authority delegation. The Notice spelled out that governments at prefecture level are responsible for approving retailing of refined oil products, and after removing the approval for wholesale and storage qualification, enterprises must conduct business operation in accordance with laws and regulations concerning safety, environmental protection, firefighting, quality inspection, taxation, transportation, meteorology and metering, and the administrative measures for crude oil market and refined oil products market would be abolished in due time.

Since the beginning of this year, to move faster to improve the new administration for oil circulation, we have worked with relevant government departments to draft the Opinions on Promoting High Quality Development of the Circulation of Oil and Refined Oil Products. The Draft Opinions, which has been revised and improved according to the comments solicited from the public, is undergoing relevant procedures and will be issued in the near future. We will enhance our efforts to guide local authorities, fully implement the reform of streamlining administration, delegating power and improving services, and push for regulated, orderly and high-quality development of oil circulation, so as to better serve the public and boost consumption. Thank you!

Hong Kong Commercial Daily: Does the Ministry of Commerce have any specific measures to help Hong Kong enterprises expand domestic sales?

Gao Feng: The Ministry of Commerce will actively support Hong Kong and Macao enterprises in making full use of the institutional advantages of "one country, two systems", exploring the mainland market, strengthening their own brands, and establishing a marketing network for mainland; they are also supported in participating in important exhibitions, such as Canton Fair and China International Import Expo, to expand domestic sales channels, and in the development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Hainan Free Trade Port to explore new opportunities for development and better integrate into the overall national development. Thank you!

People's Daily Overseas Edition: Not long ago, the Ministry of Commerce of China and the economic and trade authorities of Singapore and other countries issued a joint statement to ensure supply chain connectivity. What other economies will join it later? What specific measures will be taken for its implementation in the future?

Gao Feng: China's Ministry of Commerce joined the joint ministerial statement issued by Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry and the economic and trade authorities of 10 relevant countries. This fully reflects China's firm support for international cooperation against COVID-19 and its consistent stance on firmly safeguarding free trade.
  
At present, China is making joint efforts with Singapore and other relevant parties to actively carry out pragmatic trade and economic cooperation amid regular epidemic prevention and control, to keep trade smooth and industrial chains stable, and to help regional and global economy recover and develop. Thank you!

Gao Feng: This is the end of the press conference. Thank you!