China seeks ASEAN support for Hong Kong's accession to world's largest trade pact

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - Calling for expansion of the world's largest free trade zone, China on Wednesday urged the ASEAN member states to support the inclusion of Hong Kong into the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a trade partnership of Asia Pacific countries.

"It is hoped that all parties will support Hong Kong's accession to the agreement as the first batch of new members,” Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang said while addressing the 26th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit in Jakarta, according to Beijing-based Xinhua News Agency.

Signed in November 2020 after eight years of negotiations, the RCEP, which comprises 15 Asia Pacific countries, accounts for about 30% of the world's population and 30% of the global GDP, making it the world's largest trade bloc.

Li said that China is ready to work with "all parties" to jointly build an economic growth center, while taking the implementation of the newest APT cooperation work plan as an "opportunity."

Enumerating Beijing's "three priorities" for that, he stressed the need to continue to promote regional economic integration, unleash the dividends of the RCEP, vigorously promote the free flow of factors of production, and promote the expansion and upgrading of trade and investment.

"Second, we should continue to deepen regional industrial division and coordination, uphold the spirit of openness and win-win cooperation, continue to leverage geographical proximity and economic complementarity and other advantages, and promote the optimization and upgrading of regional industrial and supply chains in a stable manner," Li was quoted as saying.

Calling for strengthening the leading role of scientific and technological innovation, Li said that Beijing stands ready to "deepen" innovation cooperation with other parties on digital economy, clean energy and new energy vehicles to jointly promote the development of emerging industries and foster more new economic growth points.