商务部部长钟山就“推动形成全面开放新格局 推动商务事业高质量发展”答记者问

Minister Zhong Shan Answers Questions from Journalists Domestic and Abroad on “Promoting to Build the New Pattern of Comprehensive Opening up and Promoting the High Quality Development of the Commercial Business”

 

主持人：各位记者朋友大家上午好，欢迎参加十三届全国人大一次会议记者会，本场记者会的主题是“推动形成全面开放新格局，推动商务事业高质量发展”。今天,我们很高兴地邀请到商务部部长钟山先生，副部长兼国际贸易谈判副代表王受文先生，副部长钱克明先生，来共同回答大家提出的与这一主题相关的问题。首先，我们有请钟部长。

Host: Good morning, friends from the media. Welcome to the Press Conference for the First Session of the 13th National People’s Congress. The theme of the press conference is “Opening up on all Fronts and Promoting the High Quality Development of Commercial Business.” Today, we are glad to invite Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan, Vice Minister and Deputy China International Trade Representative Wang Shouwen and Vice Minister Qian Keming, to answer your questions related to the theme. At first, let us welcome Minister Zhong Shan.

钟山：谢谢主持人，谢谢各位。过去的一年，商务工作得到了新闻界朋友们的关注和关心，今天借这个机会，我代表商务部向大家表示衷心地感谢！

Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan: Thank you. In the past year, commercial work gained attentions and concerns from the friends of the press circle. Today, take this opportunity and on behalf of the Ministry of Commerce, I express our genuine gratitude to you.

去年，商务部在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，商务部圆满完成了改革发展的各项任务。经过40年的改革开放，我国已经成为经贸大国，为建设经贸强国积累了经验，奠定了基础。今年，商务部将以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻十九大精神，坚持新发展理念，推动高质量发展，落实《政府工作报告》提出的各项任务要求，巩固经贸大国地位，推进经贸强国进程，推动商务事业在新时代新征程中走在前列，多做贡献。下面，我和我的同事王受文副部长、钱克明副部长愿意回答大家的提问。谢谢。

Last year, under the firm guidance of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the Ministry of Commerce successfully completed the tasks of reform. After the 40-year reform and opening up, China has become a large trader, accumulating experience and laying the foundations for becoming a strong trader. In this year, the Ministry of Commerce will, under the guidance of President Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, deeply implement the spirits of the 19th CPC National Congress, insist on new development concepts, promote high quality development, implement the tasks and requirements in the Government’s Work Report, consolidate the status of a large trader, promote the progress of a strong trader, drive the commercial work to remain at the forefront and make more contributions. Next, together with my colleague, Vice Minister Wang Shouwen and Vice Minister Qian Keming, I will answer your questions. Thank you.

新华社记者：党的十九大报告指出，我国经济已由高速增长阶段转向高质量发展阶段，《政府工作报告》也明确提出要大力推动高质量发展，请问商务部在国内外贸易和对外开放方面有何打算？谢谢您。

Xinhua News Agency: The report of the 19th CPC National Congress put forward that China’s economy has stepped from the stage of high-speed growth to the stage of high quality development, and the government work report also pointed out that China will vigorously promote high quality development. What’s the plan of Ministry of Commerce on domestic and foreign trade, as well as the opening up? Thank you.

钟山：谢谢你的提问。习近平总书记在党的十九大报告中指出，我国经济已由高速增长阶段向高质量发展阶段，今年《政府工作报告》对推动高质量发展提出了具体要求。推动商务事业高质量发展是商务部的使命和责任。刚才我提到，我国已经成为经贸大国，主要是基于我国的消费、外贸、外资和对外投资指标都已经居世界前列。但是应当看到，我们仍然是“大而不强”，我国要成为经贸强国，必须坚持创新引领，走高质量发展之路。

Zhong Shan: Thank you for your questions. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report of the 19th CPC National Congress that China’s economy has stepped from the stage of high-speed growth to the stage of high quality development. The government work report put forward specific requirements to promote high quality development. Promoting the high quality development of the commercial business is the mission and responsibility of Ministry of Commerce. Just now I mentioned that, China has become a large trader, mainly because that China’s consumption, foreign trade, foreign investment and outward investment are all at the top of the world. However, we should see that, China is still “large but not strong”. To become a strong trader, we should stick to the leading of innovation, and follow the road of high quality development.

商务部提出了建设经贸强国、推动商务高质量发展的总体思路和具体措施。概括起来是：“一个奋斗目标、六项主要任务和八大行动计划”。一个奋斗目标，就是努力提前建成经贸强国。我们对标党的十九大作出的战略部署，规划了三个阶段性目标：2020年前，进一步巩固经贸大国地位，推进经贸强国的进程。2035年前，基本建成经贸强国。2050年前，全面建成经贸强国。

Ministry of Commerce has come up with the general thought and specific measures to build a strong trader and promote the high quality development of commercial work, which could be summarized as “one goal, six tasks and eight plans.” One goal is to endeavor to build a strong trader in advance. We have made three stage goals for the strategic deployment of the 19th CPC National Congress; before 2020, further consolidate the status of large trader and promote the progress of the strong trader; before 2035, basically complete the building of the strong trader; before 2050, fully complete the building of the strong trader.

为实现这样的一个目标， 我们明确了今后五年的六项主要任务和八大行动计划。六项主要任务，一是增强消费对经济发展的基础性作用；二是提升外贸竞争新优势；三是提高双向投资水平；四是优化区域开放布局；五是构建新型国际经贸关系；六是增强商务服务民生的能力。八大行动计划，一是消费升级行动计划；二是贸易强国行动计划；三是外资促进行动计划；四是对外投资创新行动计划；五是援外综合效益提升行动计划；六是“一带一路”合作行动计划；七是多边区域经贸合作行动计划；八是商务扶贫行动计划。

In order to reach this goal, we clarify the six tasks and eight actions in the next five years. Six tasks are shown as follows: 1. to enhance the fundamental role of consumption to economic development; 2. to improve the new superiority of foreign trade competition; 3. to improve bi-directional investment level; 4. to optimize the regional layout of opening-up; 5. to construct the new-type international economic and trade relations; 6. to intensify the ability of commerce serving people’s livelihood. Eight action plans are shown as follows: 1. consumption upgrading action plan; 2. trade power action plan; 3. foreign capital promotion action plan; 4. outbound investment innovation action plan; 5. the foreign aid action plan of integrated benefit improvement; 6. “Belt and Road” cooperation action plan; 7. multilateral regional economic and trade cooperation action plan; 8. business poverty relief action plan.

以上每一项任务和计划，始终贯穿高质量发展要求，都是推动商务高质量发展的务实举措。八大行动计划共有40个方面、150条措施，内容很丰富，很具体。由于时间关系，我在这里就不一一展开了。如果新闻界的朋友们有兴趣，我们很欢迎也很愿意进一步与各位交流。谢谢大家！

The above-mentioned tasks and plans always run through high-quality development requirements and they are practical measures to promote high-quality business development. Eight action plans get involved in 40 aspects and 150 measures. There are abundant and specific contents. Because of the shortage of time, I won’t expound them one by one. If friends from the press circles are interested in it, we would love to further exchange ideas with you. Thanks!

凤凰卫视记者：钟部长，我们对中国国际进口博览会感兴趣。我们注意到，今年的《政府工作报告》提出要办好这个博览会，而且这是今年中国主场外交的重大事件。我们想请教的是，目前全球贸易保护主义抬头，而且中国对外贸易环境趋紧尤其是美国这样的贸易伙伴。在这种情况下，我们办这个博览会有怎样的考量，目前的进展安排如何？谢谢。

Phoenix Satellite Television: Minister Zhong, we are interested in China International Import Expo. We notice that the government work report of this year proposed to run this expo. Moreover, this is the important diplomatic event in China. We wonder what China’s considerations about this expo are and how the expo’s arrangements and progress are in the wake of global trade protectionism and the nervous trade environment overseas, such China’s trade relationship with the US for example. Thank you.

钟山：谢谢你。去年5月，习近平主席在“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛上宣布，中国将从2018年起举办中国国际进口博览会。这个博览会是每年办一次的，是一个机制性的博览会。首届中国国际博览会定于今年的11月5号至10号在上海的国家会展中心举办。这个博览会是今年我国四场主场外交之一，可见中国对这次进口博览会的高度重视。刚才你问到的一些问题，包括当前的国际经济形势在内，我想这也是我们这次要办会的目的之一。所以我想跟大家介绍一下我国举办中国国际进口博览会的主要考虑，也就是我们办这个博览会的初衷。

Zhong Shan: Thank you. In May last year, President Xi Jinping announced at Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that China will hold China International Import Expo from 2018. This expo will be held yearly. It is a mechanism expo. The first China International Import Expo is determined to be held in Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center from November 5 to 10 this year. This expo will be one of four diplomatic events that China will host this year, which shows China’s full attention to it. Your questions include the current international economic situation. And I think this is one of objectives to hold this expo. Therefore, I want to introduce the main consideration about holding China International Import Expo. This is our original motivation and thoughts.

国际金融危机之后，经济全球化出现波折，多边贸易体制受到挑战，保护主义抬头。在这样一个大背景下，我们举办这样的博览会有深远的意义。中国国际进口博览会是党中央着眼推进高水平对外开放做出的一项重大决策，是我们主动向世界开放市场的重大举措，是支持经济全球化和贸易自由化的实际行动，体现了新时代中国对外开放的决心、信心，体现了中国自信、中国担当。中国进口博览会是中国发起的、多个国际组织和多个国家共同参与的国际性博览会，所以我们经常说，这个博览会不是中国的独唱，而是各个国家的大合唱。我们将为参展的国家和企业提供帮助和支持，提供参展的各项便利，还对最不发达国家免除参展的费用。

After the international financial crisis, the economic globalization has suffered setbacks. The multilateral trading system is challenged, resulting in rising protectionism. Under the overall background, it has the profound significance to hold such an expo. The China International Import Expo makes a significant decision for the central party committee to promote the high-level opening-up to the outside world. It is the great measure for us to open the market to the world. It is the practical action to support economic globalization and trade liberalization, showing the determination and confidence of China’s opening up in the new era and its self-confidence and responsibilities. The China International Import Expo is launched by China with the common participation of multiple international organizations and multiple countries. Therefore, we often think this expo is not China’s solo, but the chorus of all the countries. We will provide help and support for countries and enterprises that take part in the exhibition, offer exhibition convenience and waive exhibition expenses for the most undeveloped countries.

举办中国国际进口博览会既是中国自身发展的需要，也为全球贸易发展搭建了公共平台，为发展开放型经济、构建人类命运共同体提供了一个国际公共产品。在这里，我还想跟大家介绍一下首届中国国际进口博览会的筹备情况。进口博览会包括国家形象展和企业商业展两个部分，目前各项筹备工作正在紧张而有序的进行，特别是招展招商工作进展顺利，报名踊跃，超出预期。国家形象展主要是展示参展国经济发展和对外合作情况，只展示不成交。我们计划邀请的国家是60个，到现在为止报名的已经大大超出了60个国家。这些国家既有发达国家，也有发展中国家，还有最不发达国家。

To hold the China International Import Expo is China’s development demand and also constructs the public platform for the global trade development, providing the international public product for developing open economy and constructing the community of shared future. Here, I want to introduce the preparation situations of the first China International Import Expo to everyone here. The import expo includes national image exhibition and enterprise commerce exhibition. At present, preparation work is smoothly and orderly underway, especially the work of investment drawing and expo inviting, which are actively participated beyond our expectation. The purpose of national image exhibition is mainly to showcase the participating countries’ economic development and international cooperation, not to make immediate transactions. We plan to invite 60 countries. Until now, more than 60 countries have applied. These countries include developed countries, developing countries and the least developed countries.

企业商业展主要是展示商品服务，是可以成交的。现在已经有120多个国家和地区的企业报名，预订的展位面积比我们原来初步考虑的要超出20%，这说明全球的各个国家的企业对进口博览会非常期待。

Enterprise commerce exhibition demonstrates that commodity services can be traded. Nowadays, more than 120 national and regional enterprises have applied for it. The reserved exhibition area is more than what our have planned by 20%, showing that global enterprises in each country are having high expectation for the import expo.

招商工作也已经基本完成，预计届时将有15万名国际国内采购商到会，这同样说明进口博览会是受到各个国家和企业的热烈欢迎的。在进口博览会期间，我们还将举办虹桥国际贸易论坛，主要是探讨国际贸易发展的新趋势，为推进经济全球化、构建开放型世界经济建言献策。演讲嘉宾既有国家元首和政府首脑，也有国际组织的负责人，还有国内外知名企业家和著名专家学者。这个论坛分成主论坛和平行论坛，从目前的准备情况看，预计主论坛有1500多人参加，三个平行论坛有2000多人参加。有关进口博览会的具体情况，我们准备了一份资料，有兴趣的记者朋友可以在这个会场找我们的工作人员领取。谢谢大家！

The work of investment drawing has been basically completed. It is predicted that 150000 international and domestic purchasers will come to the expo, showing that the import expo will be greatly welcomed by all the countries and enterprises. During the period of the import expo, we will hold Hongqiao international trade forum to discuss the new trend of international trade development and provide suggestion on promoting the economic globalization and constructing the open world economy. The speech guests include heads of state and heads of government, principals of international organizations, domestic and overseas famous entrepreneurs and famous experts and scholars. This forum is divided into the main forum and parallel ones. Based on the current preparation, it is predicted that 1500 people will attend it and more than 2000 people will take part in the three parallel forums. We have prepared some handouts for the specific situation of the import expo. If you are interested, you can get it from our workers in the venue. Thank you!

彭博社记者：第一个问题，我们都注意到近期中美贸易关系出现了一些波折，我想请问部长，中方有什么样的计划来减少中国与美国之间存在的规模相当庞大的贸易顺差，就今年来说，有没有一些临时性的措施会被采纳？第二个问题，现在也有一些说法，称中方将会采取一些临时性的计划，针对美方的做法采取一些报复性的行动，其中将会涉及到包括大豆、玉米在内的农产品，甚至也可能牵扯到像飞机这样的大型的产品，请问是否属实？第三个问题，中方将中美之间已经被暂停的全面经济对话，将于何时重启？谢谢。

The reporter of Bloomberg News: The first question, we notice that there are some setbacks in the recent China-U.S. trade relations. I want to ask the director, what kind of plan will China apply to reduce the considerably large trade surplus between China and the U.S.? In terms of this year, will some temporary measures be adopted? The second question, there are some statements that the Chinese party will take some temporary plans to take some retaliatory actions against what the US have done, involving agricultural products of soybeans and corns or even large-scale products like airplanes. Is this true? The third question, when will the Chinese party restart the suspended comprehensive economic dialogue between China and the U.S.? Thank you.

钟山：我想请问一下，你是美国的记者，你是美国人吗，是美国的公民吗？

 

Zhong Shan: I want to ask, you are an American reporter. Are you American? Are you an American citizen?

彭博社记者：我是英国人。

The reporter of Bloomberg News: I am a British.

钟山：说明这个问题美国人关心，英国人关心，在座的各位都关心。近期，确实像刚才这位记者朋友说的一样，中美经贸关系有一些波折，中美之间会不会像您刚才说的爆发贸易战已经成为全球的关注。现在也成为了“两会”的关注。您刚才提了许多问题，我想就中美双边经贸关系中一些问题跟大家做一个交流。

Zhong Shan: It shows the American, the British and every here is concerned about this question. As is just mentioned by this reporter, there are some setbacks in the China-U.S. economic and trade relations recently. Whether a trade war will break out between China and the U.S. is the concern of the whole world and our Two Sessions. You just now asked many questions. I want to exchange idea with everyone here in terms of problems in the China-U.S. bilateral economic and trade relations.

我想讲的是，贸易战没有赢家，只会给中美两国和世界经济带来灾难。中国不希望打贸易战，也不会主动发起贸易战，但是我们能够应对任何挑战，坚决捍卫国家和人民的利益。关于您刚才提到的中美经贸关系，习近平主席指出，经贸关系是中美关系的“压舱石”和“推进器”。两国建交已经快40年了，双边经贸关系越来越紧密，拿贸易来说，近40年贸易规模增长了232倍，朋友们，你们想想，有没有两个国家在不到40年的时间增长那么多？两国双向投资累计已经超过2300亿美元，这就充分说明两国经济互补性很强，合作潜力很大。当然，中美经贸合作中也存在一些问题。今天我想借这个机会就几个大家关心的热点问题做一个交流。

In my opinions, there is no winner in a trade war, and it just brings a disaster to both China and U.S., as well as the world economy. China doesn’t want to attend a trade war or launch a trade war. However, we can cope with any challenge and insist on defending the interests of the nation and people. About the China-U.S. economic and trade relations, President Xi Jinping pointed out that the economic and trade relations are the “ballast stones” and “thrusters” in the China-U.S. relations. We have established diplomatic relations for 40 years. Our bilateral economic and trade relations are increasingly close. Take trade as an example, the trade scale in recent 40 years has been increased by 232 times. Friends, please image that, are there any other two countries increasing so much within 40 years? The bilateral investment of China and the US has exceeded 230 billion dollars, fully revealing that both countries have the strong economic complementarity and the large cooperative potential. Of course, there are some problems in China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation. Today, I want to seize this chance to exchange some hotspot issues with everyone.

第一，刚才您提到的贸易平衡问题。中美贸易统计是存在差异的。中国和美国统计工作组，每年就中美贸易统计差异进行一次比较研究，这个工作组由政府机构专家和其他专家组成。根据这个工作组的测算，美国官方统计的对华贸易逆差每年都被高估了20%左右。这个工作组已经有很多年了，去年工作组分析的结果，美国的逆差高估了21%。中美贸易不平衡是结构性的，中国在货物贸易上有顺差，而美国在服务贸易上有顺差，我认为贸易竞争力从根本上说是产业的竞争力。中美贸易不平衡还与美方高技术对华出口的管制有关。美国研究机构报告显示，如果美国对华出口管制放宽，对华贸易逆差可减少35%左右。

Firstly, about the trade balance problem, there are differences in China-U.S. trade statistics. Chinese and American statistical working group conducts the comparative study on the China-U.S. trade statistical difference every year. The working group is composed of governmental institution experts and other experts. According to the calculation of this working group, American’s trade deficit to China based on the US official statistics is overrated by 20% every year. The work group has been operating for many years. According to the analysis result of this working group last year, the American deficit was overrated by 21%. The China-U.S. trade imbalance is structural. China has the surplus in cargo trade, while U.S. has surplus in service trade. I think that fundamentally trade competition is industrial competition. The China-U.S. trade imbalance is related to the American high-tech control on Chinese export. The American research institution reports show that if U.S. broadens the Chinese export control, the Chinese trade surplus can be reduced by 35%.

第二，关于市场准入问题。中美发展阶段、产业结构、社会制度不同，两国在金融、电信、汽车、农产品等领域的市场准入是存在一些差异的，双方都各有诉求。

Secondly, about the market entrance. Since the development stage, industrial structure and social system of China and U.S. are different, both countries have some differences in finance, telecom, automobiles, and agricultural products. Both parties have their own appeal.

第三，关于安全审查问题。中美对网络安全、知识产权、两用物项等安全的看法存在差异。这些差异对彼此之间的贸易、投资都产生了影响。

Thirdly, about the safety inspection. China and U.S. have different opinions on network safety, intellectual property, and two-purpose items. These differences have an influence on their trade and investment.

这些问题双方也都已经注意到了。最近，中共中央政治局委员、中央财办刘鹤主任出访美国，与美方就中美贸易问题进行了坦诚的、具有建设性的讨论。刚才记者朋友提到的中美全面经济对话中断问题，我认为没有中断，我们还在继续谈，中美之间合作交流的渠道没有中断过。不仅现在我们在谈，下一步双方确定还会继续谈。

Both parties have noticed these problems. In recent years, the member of CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and the director in central financial office Liu He visited the U.S. to give the honest constructive discussion about the China-U.S. trade problems. Just like the interruption of China-U.S. comprehensive economic dialogue, I think it isn’t interrupted. We will continue discussing it. The exchange channel in China-U.S. cooperation is never interrupted. Now we are discussing it and we will continue our discussion in the future.

今天我在这里讲，中美双方会继续谈，我想大家都高兴，因为谁也不愿意打贸易战，谁都知道打贸易战损人不利己，这个是大家都愿意听到的，也是愿意看到的一个好结果。但是我们还有许多事要做，像这样的谈判不是一家可以说了算，需要双方共同努力，进一步加强合作。习近平主席多次强调，合作是中美两国唯一正确的选择。我们非常愿意与美方按照两国元首达成的共识，通过合作来解决分歧，实现互利共赢，造福于两国人民，为全球经济稳定发展作出贡献。谢谢！

Today I say that China and U.S. will continue the discussion and I think everyone is happy, because no one is willing to have the trade war. Everyone knows that trade war is harmful to others and does no good to oneself. We all want to see and hear a good result. However, we still have to complete many tasks. Such negotiation can’t be determined by one person. Instead, it needs the common efforts of both sides and further enhanced cooperation. President Xi Jinping emphasized for many times that cooperation is the only correct choice for China and U.S.. We are willing to reach a consensus through the heads of two countries, solve problems through cooperation, gain a win-win result, benefit people, and make a contribution to the stable global economic development. Thank you!

第一财经记者：请问钟山部长，当前中国对外签署自贸协定的情况如何，中方开展自贸协定谈判跟多边贸易体制的关系如何，您又认为接下来怎么看待未来多边贸易体制的发展？谢谢。

CBN: Minister Zhong Shan, how about China’s signing of free trade agreement? What is the relationship between China’s FTA negotiations and the multilateral trading system? How do you comment on the development of multilateral trading system in the future?

钟山：你提的这个问题很重要。实施自贸区战略是党中央作出的一个重大战略部署，这项工作由王受文副部长分管，请他来回答。

Zhong Shan: It is a very important problem. The FTA strategy is the central committee’s major strategy. Our vice Minister Wang Shouwen is responsible for this part. Now welcome vice Minister Wang Shouwen to take this question.

王受文：谢谢钟部长，谢谢记者的提问。对外洽谈和签署自贸协定是我们对外开放的一个重要内容，也是我们扩大国际交流与合作的一个重要抓手。党的十八大以来，商务部根据党中央的部署，积极采取措施来加快我们自贸区网络的建设，我非常高兴地向您介绍。

 

Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen: Thank you Minister Zhong Shan, thank you for the question. The negotiation and signing of free trade agreement is an important part of China’s opening-up and also a major opportunity for China to expand international communication and cooperation. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, MOFCOM has taken active moves to accelerate the construction of FTA network in line with the deployment of the central committee. I’m very glad to give you an introduction in this regard.

到目前为止，中国已经和24个国家或地区签署了16个自由贸易协定，这16个自由贸易协定可以说是立足周边、辐射“一带一路”、面向全球，既有我们周边国家包括东盟的成员，也有“一带一路”沿线比如说巴基斯坦、格鲁吉亚，还有世界上其他国家比如拉美的秘鲁、智利。这个自贸区网络既包括发达国家，像澳大利亚，也包括一些发展中国家。自贸协定为我们国家开展国际贸易、投资合作提供了一个广阔的空间，为我们的对外贸易投资关系的发展发挥了重要的推动作用。

China has signed 16 free trade agreements with 24 countries and regions so far. We could say they are exerting the powerful influence of the e Belt and Road route with a strong foothold in the neighborhood so as to reach out to the world. That includes our neighbors like ASEAN countries, countries along the Belt and Road such as Pakistan and Georgia, and also other countries like Peru and Chile from Latin America. The FTA network has contained the developed countries like Australia and some developing countries as well. It has provided vast space for China to conduct international trade and investment cooperation and propel closer foreign trade and investment relations.

我们统计，我们和自贸伙伴贸易投资关系的发展都比非自贸伙伴成员的发展要快。举个例子来说，我们和东盟的贸易去年达到了5000多亿美元，是我们刚刚实施中国-东盟自贸协定那一年贸易额的6倍。在实施自贸协定之前，中国原来是东盟的第五大贸易伙伴，现在已经成为东盟最大贸易伙伴。当然，在自由贸易区建设过程中，在开放水平方面还需要进一步提高，与自贸伙伴贸易额的比重还需要进一步提升。进入新时代，我们会按照中央的部署，按照党的十九大精神，加快推进自贸区网络的建设。

According to the statistics, China’s trade and investment relations with FTA partners grew faster than that with non-FTA partners. Take an example. China-ASEAN trade registered more than US$500 billion last year, 6 times of that when the China-ASEAN FTA was just put into effect. China has been ASEAN’s 5th largest trading partner before the FTA was implemented. And now China has been the largest trading partner of the ASEAN. Certainly, along with the FTA construction, the opening level needs to be further improved and the trade percentage increased. Entering into the new time, we will follow the deployment of the central committee to accelerate the FTA construction in line with the spirits of the 19th CPC National Congress.

您刚刚也提到自贸区建设和多边贸易谈判之间的关系。您也知道，WTO有164个成员，这么多成员，谈判达成一致是比较难的。但是多边贸易体制的好处是范围很广，达成了一项协议能够适用于164个成员。我认为，自贸协定谈判对多边谈判是一个促进的作用，一个成员一开始就对所有163个其他成员开放市场是比较难的，但是通过自贸协定谈判对部分成员进行开放，如果开放以后有好处，风险可控，那么他就更愿意、更大胆在多边贸易谈判里面显示灵活性。所以，自贸谈判和WTO谈判是互相促进的，我们认为它们是互补的。

You just mentioned the relations between the FTA construction and multilateral trade negotiations. As we know the WTO has 164 members, so it’s difficult to reach concensus with so many members. But one good point of the multilateral trading system is that it covers a wide range and one agreement could apply to 164 members. I believe that the FTA negotiation could promote the multilateral negotiations. It’s hard for one member to open its market to 163 members at first. But when it opens its market to some members through the FTA negotiations and if it’s beneficial and controllable, then it will be willing to be more flexible in the multilateral trading negotiations. Therefore, the FTA negotiations and WTO negotiations are mutually beneficial and complementary to each other.

至于多边贸易体制目前遇到的困难，确实是有。比如WTO现在的谈判遇到了困难，同时在争端解决机制方面也遇到一些困难。中国加入WTO以后，积极支持WTO，是多边贸易体制积极的参与者、建设者与贡献者。我们参加了WTO的信息技术协定的扩围谈判、贸易便利化协定谈判，这些协定的达成，我们都做出了贡献。禁止对农业出口补贴的协议，中方也积极推动，起到了很好的作用。未来，中国会继续支持多边贸易谈判，包括传统议题，像粮食储备公共安全的谈判，现在正在进行的渔业补贴谈判，中国都会积极支持与参与。同时，中国对一些新议题的谈判也持开放态度，包括电子商务、投资便利化等。至于争端解决方面遇到的困难，我们认为这是WTO的核心功能，符合所有成员的共同利益，也符合所有成员的长远利益。所以，我们希望WTO成员能够本着大局的利益，积极采取措施来尽快恢复，使多边贸易体制的运行更加顺畅。谢谢！

The multilateral trading system does encounter some challenges. For example, the WTO negotiations face some difficulties at present, so does the dispute settlement mechanism. China has actively supported the WTO and served as a participant, builder and contributor of the multilateral trading system since its accession to the WTO. We have participated and contributed to the WTO ITA extended negotiations and trade facilitation agreement negotiation. We also played a part in reaching the agreement prohibiting agricultural export subsidy. In the future, China will continue to support the multilateral trade negotiations, including traditional topics like public security of grain storage and the fishery subsidy negotiations underway. Meanwhile, China also holds open attitude toward some new topics negotiations like e-commerce and investment facilitation. Regarding the problems for dispute settlement, we believe they are the WTO’s core functions and are in the common and long-term interests of all members. Therefore, we hope that all WTO members could take the overall situation into account and take active moves as soon as possible to make the multilateral trading system run smoothly. Thank you!