Upgrade in China-ASEAN trade relations injects certainty into global economy: expert

The conclusion of China-ASEAN negotiations on the version 3.0 of their free trade area further enhances the frameworks of economic and trade cooperation between the two sides, and solidifies the foundation of rules-based cooperation, an expert said in Beijing on Wednesday.

China and the ten ASEAN countries have fully completed negotiations on the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA), the Ministry of Commerce announced on Wednesday.

The new trade agreement, finalized at a time when global trade protectionism is on the rise, sends a strong message that multilateralism and free trade are essential drivers for global economic growth, according to Ma Jianchun, president of the China Society for WTO Studies.

Noting that the China-ASEAN FTA is the largest free trade area of the world's developing countries, the expert emphasized that through the integration and interoperability of standards and regulations, it has broken the old model where rule-making and standard-setting were traditionally dominated by developed countries.

"China and the ASEAN countries demonstrated respect for free trade and rules throughout their negotiations this time. All of us upheld free trade and multilateral trade rules in the first place, and on this basis we had a foundation to negotiate. Throughout the process, we adhered to equality, reciprocity, and mutual benefit," said Ma.

The expert also said that the cooperation between China and the ASEAN countries is a pace setter for economic globalization and regional economic integration. The conclusion of the China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 negotiations is both out of the objective requirement in the process of cooperation and development, and a guiding force and guarantee for the long-term stability and sustainability of the partnership between the two sides.

"We need certainty in trade. Certainty is a guarantee to ensure that trade between China and ASEAN countries remains stable and sustainable. Beyond that, certainty is also a safeguard for smooth global economic and trade activities. So we are actively using the certainty in our economic cooperation to offset the impacts and adverse effects that various uncertainties may have on global trade," said Ma.

Upgrade in China-ASEAN trade relations injects certainty into global economy: expert

A China Media Group (CMG) reporter helped evacuate Chinese nationals stranded at Dubai International Airport before it was damaged in an ''incident" early on Sunday morning.

The reporter, who went to the airport by car to investigate flight delays, met several stranded Chinese nationals at the airport who had been unable to leave on their scheduled flights as the Middle East conflict forced airlines to stall operations.

The Chinese passengers said after they arrived a little before 19:00, the check-in counter was closed, raising their concern that the airport might be taken over by the military.

"I was thinking of finding some chairs for the kids to sleep on before going back to ask what was going on. At first, the airport staff offered to help, but then some people who looked like soldiers came and told us to leave," said a Chinese passenger.

Footage from the reporter showed that the area outside the airport was almost deserted, with very few vehicles. Public transportation had been suspended early, and only police cars were parked on both sides of the road, with emergency staff signaling all civilian vehicles to leave immediately.

Dubai Airports confirmed that a concourse at Dubai International Airport later sustained minor damage in what it referred to as an “incident”. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed and were managing the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities. Aviation sources told Reuters news agency that one of the terminals had been damaged during an overnight Iranian attack.

The Dubai Media Office said that four staff members sustained injuries and received prompt medical attention.

CMG reporter helps evacuate Chinese nationals from Dubai airport