China willing to promote cooperation with ASEAN in Version 3.0 FTA: MOC

(ECNS) -- China is willing to work with all ASEAN members to jointly upgrade the level of openness and cooperation in Version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA), Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen said on Sunday.

Wang made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the third round of Version 3.0 China-ASEAN FTA negotiations held in Kunming, Southwest China’s Yunnan Province.

He pointed out that the China-ASEAN FTA has effectively promoted the rapid growth of trade and investment between China and ASEAN over the past 20 years.

The Version 3.0 FTA will fully upgrade the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and all ASEAN members, Wang said.

The increasing cooperation in the digital economy, the green economy, and supply chain industries will further promote the high-quality development of economic and trade relations between the two sides and more regional economic integration, he added.

The third round of Version 3.0 China-ASEAN FTA negotiations runs from Saturday to Tuesday. About 370 officials from China and ASEAN member states, as well as officials from the ASEAN Secretariat, will attend the meeting.