China will continue to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to build a more inclusive, mutually beneficial, modern, inclusive, and comprehensive Free Trade Area (FTA), an official with China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said in Beijing on Thursday.
Leaders from China and the ASEAN on Thursday announced the substantial conclusion of Version 3.0 China-ASEAN FTA upgrade negotiations and issued a joint statement at the 27th China-ASEAN Summit in the Lao capital city of Vientiane.
According to the ministry, the substantial conclusion of the negotiations represents a significant step forward for the FTA towards a more mutually beneficial, modern, inclusive, and comprehensive direction.
"The two sides have, for the first time, reached the highest level of provisions on digital economy, green economy, and interconnected supply chains in their respective economic and trade agreements, which will promote the digitalization and green transformation of both sides, with pioneering significance. Furthermore, a dedicated chapter on competition and consumer protection has been established for the first time, which will foster a more favorable market environment for economic and trade exchanges between the two sides," said Chen Zhiyang, deputy head of the MOC Department of International Economic and Trade Relations.
The negotiations will bring benefits to businesses and the general public on both sides, promoting trade facilitation and inclusive development, Chen added.
"The two sides have committed to jointly promoting the free flow of key products and services, enhancing the interconnected construction of infrastructure, and collaborating to address issues such as supply chain disruptions. This will help build a secure, stable, smooth, and efficient regional production and supply chain cooperation network. Through the 3.0 version of the agreement, the two sides will enhance openness, elevate the level of economic and trade cooperation, and inject new impetus into economic globalization," said Chen.
China to work with ASEAN to build more inclusive, mutually beneficial FTA: official
The Ecological and Environmental Code solidifies China's successful reform experiences in the form of law, transforming ecological conservation into a long-term national goal for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation, said a member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on Thursday.
Chinese lawmakers voted to adopt the Ecological and Environmental Code at the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing earlier in the day.
Lyu Zhongmei, also vice chair of the NPC Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee, who first proposed the drafting of the code, said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) that the adoption of the code represents a milestone in transforming the country's successful reform policies into a stable legal framework, with profound implications on both national ecological governance and people's daily lives.
"I think this actually sends a very strong signal to the world. Many of our past achievements in ecological civilization system reform were reflected through policies, with numerous reform measures introduced. This time, we are institutionalizing the successful experience of those reforms in the form of law, the most authoritative and stable way to solidify them. This shows that our efforts are not just a one-off campaign. Rather, ecological and environmental protection and the building of an ecological civilization are national goals that reflect the people’s aspiration for a better life and serve the ultimate purpose of ensuring the sustainable development of the Chinese nation," said Lyu.
Lyu highlighted that the code directly enshrines China's greenhouse gas pledge and dual-carbon goals into law, demonstrating the country's concrete actions to fulfill its international responsibilities and uphold its image as a responsible major country.
"We have directly written the commitment to fully meet greenhouse gas targets into the code, and incorporated pledges to use the 'dual carbon' goals as a driving force to advance a comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development. I think this reflects our concrete actions to honor our commitments and take responsibility to the international community, demonstrating China’s image as a responsible major country," she said.
On the topic of global trade, she explained how the code will help safeguard China's interests.
"On the one hand, we are raising standards for the green and low-carbon transition and adopting market-based measures. Some of the standards we have established based on China's actual situation and the methodologies we have created can contribute China's experience and expertise to the world. On the other hand, the Ecological and Environmental Code also includes provisions on extraterritorial application and establishes China’s own system of environmental protection standards," Lyu said.
Looking to the future, she discussed the code's role in the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).
"During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, I believe our ecological and environmental protection will undergo fundamental changes. In the past, it relied more on strict administrative enforcement and control. But now, while not lowering strict control standards or reducing strict control measures, we must also introduce more incentive-based measures. Strict regulation will push enterprises to transform and encourage them to pursue environmental protection. The code will provide a clear, long-term and stable norm. In my view, the Ecological and Environmental Code is not only a 'tightening band' that constrains corporate behavior, but also an 'engine' that opens up new tracks for enterprises’ future development," she said.
China's ecological environmental code represents milestone in environmental rule of law
