China Will Formally Sign Free Trade Agreement With Georgia During the "The Belt and Road Initiative" Summit
The Information Office of the State Council held a release conference on promoting a sound trade and deepening the economic and trade cooperation of “The Belt and Road Initiative”. Reported by Finance·China on 10th of May.
Qian Keming, the Vice Minister of Commerce Department introduced the construction of the free trade areas of the neighboring countries along “The Belt and Road“. Qian Keming said that China has stepped up its speed to promote the construction of the free trade areas along “The Belt and Road” in recent years. At present, we have signed and implemented free trade agreements with 22 countries and regions, which involve 11 of the countries along“The Belt and Road”, including China and ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, China and Pakistan FTA and China and Singapore's FTA.
According to Qian Keming, China formally signed the free trade agreement with Georgia and started a joint feasible research of the free trade agreement with Mongolia.
“According to the list of our plan, China will promote the construction of the free trade areas of 20 neighboring countries, including the implementation of RCEP, the free trade agreement of China - GCC, China - Maldives, China - Sri Lanka and China and Israel, and a joint feasible research of the free trade agreement with Nepal, Bangladesh, Moldova and other countries. In addition, we also signed free trade agreement with Pakistan and Singapore and started new upgraded negotiations for FTA.“ Qian Keming said, "besides, we have finished the fourth round of Tariff Concessions Negotiations with India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Laos –the countries along “The Belt and Road” under the Asia-Pacific FTA and prepared for implementation.”