Foreign guests to CIFTIS expect more RCEP dividends from further cooperation

BEIJING, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Foreign guests from Asia, Africa and Europe expressed their hopes to share the benefits of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) by deepening related cooperation at forums held during the recently-closed China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS).

At a forum on economics and technology administration, Elia George Kaiyamo, Ambassor of the Republic of Namibia to China, particularly expressed his recognition and praise to the RCEP-centered Asia Pacific free trade zone. He said that China, as a major trading partner of many African countries and RCEP participants, has played a key role in global trade.

Elia George Kaiyamo, Ambassor of the Republic of Namibia to China, addresses the China International Economics and Technology Administration Forum on Sept. 4, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Shimeng)

Noting the importance of RCEP to the regional integration of the east Asia, Ghulam Qadir, Commercial Counsellor of Embassy of Pakistan to China, wished that China and Pakistan could cooperate in more areas under the the China-Pakistan free trade agreement and upgrade the pact to a more comprehensive level. He added that more multilateral cooperation is needed to deal with global climate change.

At another forum on foreign trade, Commercial Counsellor of Embassy of Ireland to China Joseph Keating said that the RCEP will bring benefits to enterprises in Ireland. Although the European Union (EU) is not part of the RCEP, the bloc could have an indirect access to a huge market including China, as it signed free trade agreement with four RCEP members. The pact optimized process including cross-border check and standard adjustment, making regional supply chain operating with lower cost and higher flexibility.

As foreign representatives favor the RCEP, industrial experts believe that more efforts should be made to accelerate the development of service trade and e-commerce under the frame of the deal.

China should actively take part in the rule-making in terms of service trade and implement the commitments in service trade and e-commerce under the RCEP, said Yi Xiaozhun, WTO's former deputy director-general. 

(By Li Shimeng with Xinhua Silk Road, lishimeng@xinhua.org)