FTA 3.0 between China, ASEAN to further expand cooperation in emerging fields: experts

The Version 3.0 China-ASEAN free trade agreement (FTA), finalized at the 27th China-ASEAN Summit in the Lao capital city of Vientiane on Thursday, will further expand cooperation in emerging fields, according to experts.

The upgrades cover the following areas: the digital economy; the green economy; supply chain connectivity; standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures; sanitary and phytosanitary measures; customs procedures and trade facilitation; competition and consumer protection; small and medium-sized enterprises; and economic and technological cooperation.

For the first time, China and ASEAN have reached the highest-level agreements in their respective trade and economic arrangements regarding the digital economy, green economy, and supply chain connectivity.

"This will promote the digital and green transformation of both parties and has significant pioneering importance. The two sides have optimized chapters on customs procedures and trade facilitation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and economic and technical cooperation. Additionally, a new chapter on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) has been added, which will help reduce transaction costs and bring more benefits to businesses and people on both sides," said Chen Zhiyang, deputy head, Department of International Economic and Trade Relations, Ministry of Commerce.

At the same time, the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN free trade agreement (FTA) will prioritize advancing standard cooperation and mutual recognition in fields such as new energy vehicles and electronics.

"This will also effectively address the current issue of inconsistent standards between China and ASEAN in related industries, reducing market entry barriers and institutional costs. It will promote regional investment and provide a better development environment for companies on both sides to further develop green industry cooperation, with a focus on new energy vehicles," said Yuan Bo, director, Asian Institute under Ministry of Commerce Research Institute.

FTA 3.0 between China, ASEAN to further expand cooperation in emerging fields: experts

A group of Japanese peace activists gathered outside the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Friday to protest the government's push for constitutional revision and the lifting of a ban on lethal weapons exports.

The Japanese government officially revised the "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology" and related implementation guidelines on April 21, allowing overseas sales of weapons, including those with lethal capabilities.

Kyodo News, a Japanese news agency, said the changes mark a significant shift in the country's defense policy, noting that it has long touted itself as a "peace-loving nation" under its war-renouncing Constitution since its defeat in World War II.

The protesters accused the Takaichi administration of lifting the export ban without sufficient debate or deliberation in the National Diet.

"Without full discussions in the National Diet, the government just arbitrarily decided on arms exports and made various excuses for it. Also, regarding the incident of intrusion into the Chinese embassy, the government has not issued an apology. Japan should be on friendly terms with neighboring countries, yet it engages in actions that incite confrontation. [Constitutional revision] is truly disturbing. Especially nowadays, the Liberal Democratic Party and Prime Minister Takaichi are pushing for arms exports in order to build a nation capable of waging war. This is absolutely unacceptable," one female protester said.

"As a matter of fact, it [lifting the ban on lethal weapons exports] was arbitrarily decided by the cabinet without any consideration of people's opinions. Revising the pacifist constitution will undoubtedly harm Japan's national interests. I sincerely hope that the Takaichi administration will stop this practice," a male protester said.

"Article 9 of Japan's constitution has gradually, to some extent, been distorted by various faits accomplis. While Japan is nominally a 'peaceful country,' this is not the case in reality," another female protester said.

Protesters rally in Tokyo against arms exports, constitutional revision