News

China, ASEAN to hold cooperation conference

By Li Yingqing and Guo Anfei (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-09-14 11:39

The China-ASEAN Industry Cooperation Conference will be held from Sept 17 to 19 in Kunming, capital of Southwest China’s Yunnan province.

Delegates attending the conference will be from Chinese and ASEAN governments, China and ASEAN Chamber of Commerce, ASEAN’s embassies in China and others.

Ruan Fengbin, vice mayor of Kunming, said trade between Kunming and ASEAN increased sharply in recent years. Trade volume remained at 24.2%, increasing in 2009 despite the global economic crisis. The figure reached $1.2 billion in the first seven months of this year, up 60% year on year.

China-ASEAN Free Trade Area was established on Jan 1, 2010. At present, China and the original members of ASEAN levy zero tariffs for 90% of trade. Customs in China is on average 9.8% to other countries, but only 0.1% to ASEAN. China will offer zero tariffs to four new members of ASEAN: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.