Highlights

• Free trade agreements

China has signed 16 free trade agreements with 24 countries and regions, said Vice-Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen. The country will continue to support FTAs and multilateral trade negotiations, Wang said.

• Belt and Road Initiative

More than 140 countries and regions have given positive feedback to or are participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, said Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan. In 2017, trade volume between China and Belt and Road economies exceeded $1.1 trillion, up by 14.8 percent year-onyear.

• Promotion of overseas investment

China will urge competent companies with a good reputation to expand their businesses in international markets, while developing their ability to prevent risks, Zhong said. The country will continue to control irrational investment and require enterprises that make overseas investments to comply with local laws and regulations, Zhong said.

• Quality trade development

The country will see high quality development and innovation as the major driver of growth, and aim to become a strong trading power by 2050, Zhong said.

• Economic globalization

China will help countries and regions related to the Belt and Road Initiative develop their digital economy and blend in with economic globalization, Zhong said.