BEIJING, August 3 (Xinhua)-The RCEP Ministerial Conference was held in Beijing on August 3. Hu Chunhua, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech.

As the free trade agreement covering as the world's biggest population and with the enormous potentiality the RCEP is of great significance for promoting regional industrial division of labor, economic integration, expanding national development space and enhancing people's well-being, Hu Chunhua emphasized. Currently, negotiations have entered the final critical stage. China is willing to work with all members to enhance confidence in ending negotiations with this year, transforming strong political will into positive actions to advance negotiations, showing greater flexibility in market access, and seeking common ground while reserving differences in rules negotiations. We will lead the follow-up negotiation process through early results and work together to promote the smooth conclusion of the negotiations within this year. China will, as always, respect and support ASEAN's core position in the negotiations, and strive to promote talks, cooperation, and results," and actively contribute to the concluding of negotiations within this year.

Hu Chunhua said that the current Chinese economy continues to maintain a generally stable and upward development trend. The Chinese government is deepening reforms and advancing a new round of high-level opening-up. A series of major opening measures have been launched, and more high-quality foreign goods and services are welcome to enter China. It is expected that through the RCEP, we will further deepen the mutually beneficial cooperation with all members and build a closer community of common interests.

The trade ministers or representatives of the member states including the Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister of Thailand Jurin, the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the Chairman of the Negotiating Committee for the RCEP attended the meeting.

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