Major free trade area in Guangdong achieves record-high import, export value

A major free trade area in South China's Shenzhen City has reached a milestone in expanding its international trade, with imports and exports to and from businesses there reaching a record high of 261.37 billion yuan (over 36 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half of this year, according to official data.

The Qianhai and Shekou Area of Shenzhen, part of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, has over 12,000 enterprises registered with the local customs authorities, marking a near 6-fold increase since its establishment in 2015.

The increasing inflow of enterprises has also injected new momentum into the high-level opening up of the broader Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The free trade area has won praise for its pioneering efforts in creating more benefits for the enterprises based there as it enlarges opening up.

The authorities in the area have been promoting trade and investment as well as streamlining capital flow, transportation, personnel exchanges, and secure and orderly flow of data.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for an official visit to China through Saturday.

This visit marks the first trip to China by a Canadian Prime Minister in eight years.

When briefing on the visit of Carney, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said China looks forward to taking this visit as an opportunity to enhance dialogue and communication, increase political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, properly manage differences, address each other's concerns and consolidate the momentum of improvement in China-Canada relations to bring greater benefit for the two peoples.