Xi Jinping vows to address trade practice concerns as China seeks to join Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

Name: CPTPP could become game changer and supplant 'out-of-date' WTO, after mainland China, Taiwan apply
Uploaded: 2021-11-04T15:11:57.000Z
Duration: 11 min 11 s
Description: CPTPP could become game changer and supplant 'out-of-date' WTO, after mainland China, Taiwan apply

Xi tells fourth China International Import Expo that Beijing is willing to discuss issues such as the digital economy, subsidies and state-owned companies

Concerns about these issues could scupper its bid to join the trade bloc, but one government adviser suggested there was room for manoeuvre

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Xi Jinping promised to uphold the role of international institutions. Photo: Xinhua

Amanda Leein BeijingandOrange Wang

Published: 11:11pm, 4 Nov 2021Updated: 12:12am, 5 Nov 2021

Chinese President Xi Jinping criticised protectionism and unilateralism on Thursday, promising to address concerns about China’s trade practices as the country seeks to join a Pacific Rim trade bloc.

“China supports the reform of the World Trade Organization in the right direction, the inclusive development of the multilateral trading system, and the legitimate rights and interests of the developing members,” Xi said, adding that China would push forward its efforts to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement.

In a video address to the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, Xi said China has “fully fulfilled the commitments it made when joining the WTO in 2001”.

He continued: “China will proactively and openly participate in negotiations on the digital economy, trade and the environment, industrial subsidies and state-owned companies, and defend multilateralism and the international rule-based system, defend the stability of global industrial and supply chain”

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CPTPP could become game changer and supplant 'out-of-date' WTO, after mainland China, Taiwan apply

Xi also stressed that China would support international organisations such as the United Nations, Group of 20, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and look to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, the digital economy and low carbon initiatives.