China trade: 18-point plan to boost commerce focused on Asean, exhibitions as charm offensive continues
- China’s State Council will encourage exporters to attend more overseas exhibitions, while also resuming international flights and improving visa application channels
- It will also increase efforts to bolster the automotive and e-commerce sectors, while encouraging deeper ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)
China is racing against time to rebuild trust and connections with overseas buyers after a host of measures were announced to boost trade, including increasing attendance at overseas fairs and welcoming back foreign businesspeople.
The State Council said in a document released on Tuesday that it will facilitate exporters to attend more overseas exhibitions to rebuild connections with buyers and to recover orders.
The 18-point document also said China would resume international flights in an organised manner, while also simplifying coronavirus testing measures for inbound travellers.
“[We will] improve the efficiency of Apec Business Travel Card processing, further promote visa application channels and processing efficiency for overseas business personnel,” China’s cabinet said according to the official Xinhua News Agency, referring to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) card that is issued to certain business travellers and senior government officials.
Beijing is attempting to accelerate the outward mobility of the trade industry as its prolonged zero-Covid policy has caused a backlog of orders and a loss of customers amid attempts by Washington to also remove China from its industrial supply chains.