This yea is the year of innovative development of foreign trade. The Ministry of Commerce, in conjunction with all relevant departments and local governments, has actively implemented three major plans on optimized import and export, trade and industry integration, and smooth trade flow, to promote the innovative development of foreign trade, and contribute to the rapid formation of the new development paradigm.

In terms of optimized import and export, first, the trade structure is further optimized. Emerging markets have become China’s main trading partners, accounting for 49.5% of export. The role of private enterprises as the main players is more prominent, accounting for 57.4% of export. Second, the quality of export continued to improve. The proportion of electrical and mechanical products export rose to 59%. China provided more than 1.85 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations. Third, the import of high-quality products continues to increase. In RMB terms, imports of consumer goods grew 22.3% from January to October, which can better meet consumer demand for high-quality and personalized goods. Imports of advanced technology, important equipment and key components helped to keep the supply chain and industrial chain stable and smooth. Fourth, new forms of foreign trade emerged more rapidly. Cross-border e-commerce import and export, market procurement grew rapidly. There are now more than 1,500 foreign trade integrated services enterprises, more than 16 million square meters of overseas warehouse, and about 130 bonded maintenance program.

In terms of trade and industry integration: First, we have further promoted the high-quality development of foreign trade transformation and upgrading bases. We identified an additional 105 national foreign trade transformation and upgrading bases, built public service platforms, and optimized and improved support policies. Second, we guided the gradual transfer of processing trade to the central, western and northeastern regions. We support industrial cooperation between the central and western regions, the northeast and the eastern region, cultivated and identified the first batch of 13 national processing trade industrial parks. In the first 10 months of this year, processing trade exports in the central and western regions rose by 1.3 percentage points to 26.7%. Third, enhance the industrial development capacity in border areas. We trialed the first batch of border trade imports processing in 13 counties and cities. Under the A hundred Companies into the Border Area initiative, nearly 80 companies have started processing in border areas.

On trade facilitation: First, we have improved trade flows. We have newly established smooth trade working groups with Indonesia and other countries, and leveraged existing working groups to seek practical solutions to difficulties and problems in bilateral trade. Second, we have encouraged the formation of international marketing systems by supporting key sectors in developing international marketing regimes and stepping up promotion of state-level public service platforms. Third, we have enhanced ease of trade by continuously expanding functions of the “dingle window” for international trade. Fourth, we have supported companies to expand domestic and international markets through such trading platforms as Canton Fair and the CIIE, in a bid to better connect the domestic and international circulations. Fifth, we have pushed for foreign trade integration by supporting domestic sales of products made for export, and ensuring that good for domestic and overseas sale are made on the same production lines, meet the same standards, and be of the same quality.

In the next step, MOFCOM will follow the instructions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on innovation-driven development to grow new institutions, business models and business types for foreign trade and pursue high-quality development of trade. First, we will work faster to cultivate new trade types. We will expand the scope of new comprehensive pilot zone for cross-border e-commerce, improve the pilot adjustment mechanism for market procurement trade, support the sound development of general foreign trade services providers, optimize the overseas warehouse network, enhance repair services in bonded zones, and push for steady progress in offshore trade. Second, we will actively explore green trade. Championing the concept of green development, we will accelerate the green and low-carbon transformation of foreign trade, explore green trade standards and certification regimes, build platforms for the development of green trade, create a favorable policy environment, and strengthen international cooperation. Third, we will advance digital trade. We will design and establish a policy system facilitating trade digitization and bolster relevant rules and standards. We will move ahead with international cooperation, stay focused on encouraging digital transformation of foreign trade companies to enable digital empowerment along the whole trade chains, and improve public services. We will also encourage local authorities in taking the initiative, by setting up a group of pacesetter zones for digitization in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and other areas. Thank you.