Ministry of Commerce: Continue to advance the signing of agreements on economic partnership for shared development with African countries that have diplomatic relations with China.

On November 11, the National Development and Reform Commission held a press conference in its "Striving for the 15th Five-Year Plan" series to brief on Belt and Road cooperation. Song Lihong, a first-level inspector of the Department of General Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce, said that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the Ministry of Commerce will work on multiple fronts with Belt and Road partner countries to improve international economic and trade rules and further promote and safeguard high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. China will expand its global network of free trade areas. To date, China has signed 19 free trade agreements with 25 Belt and Road partner countries. Next, we will continue to advance the negotiation and signing of agreements on economic partnership for shared development with African countries that have diplomatic relations with China, push for the early entry into force of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 and the protocol to upgrade the China-Georgia free trade agreement, accelerate free trade negotiations or upgrading processes with relevant Belt and Road partner countries in Central Asia and the Pacific region, strive for early positive outcomes in the expansion and upgrading of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and strengthen cooperation with Belt and Road partner countries in new areas, actively improving rules in fields such as the digital and smart economy and green development.