TPP incomplete without China, says official

China's Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao said Wednesday that a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement is incomplete without China, as China has been aware that the United States would like to keep the TPP closed to its current members.

"For the TPP, frankly speaking, there have been internal debates within both the United States and the Chinese government. But now our position is clear. As China becomes more open, it's very important for us to be integrated into the global trade system with a high standard," Zhu said here at the Peterson Institute of International Economics in Washington D.C.

"The message that China will open up more is very clear, as President Xi Jinping has emphasized. We also welcome any new proposals from the United States, and we work together to promote trade liberalization in the Asia-Pacific region and globally as well," he said.

The TPP aims to set up a high standard free trade zone comprising major economies throughout the Asia Pacific region. The talks were initiated by Singapore, New Zealand, Chile and Brunei in 2005 but have become dominated by the United States after it joined the talks in 2008.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said in April that China has an open attitude to the proposed TPP trade agreement. As long as the TPP is conducive to the development of global trade and the fostering of an equitable and open trading environment, China is happy to see its conclusion.