China’s State Council has announced a new strategy, with a key element to encourage exporters to attend more overseas exhibitions. The 18-point plan also includes resuming international flights and improving visa application channels.
Other key points are a commitment to increase efforts to bolster the automotive and e-commerce sectors, while encouraging deeper ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Asean has grown to become China’s biggest trading partner for the past three years.
The State Council document said the country would facilitate its exporters to attend more overseas trade fairs to recover orders lost in recent years.
“[We will] improve the efficiency of Apec Business Travel Card processing, further promote visa application channels and processing efficiency for overseas business personnel,” the State Council was quoted by the Xinhua state news agency.
China said it would respond to unreasonable overseas trade restrictions, while providing relief to key industries affected by US-led trade frictions.
China’s exports to the Asean bloc rose by 35.43% year on year in March, while shipments of its automotive products, which account for 5% of China’s total exports, increased by 59% year on year last month.
Although China’s shipments to the United States remained soft according to the March figures, dropping by 7.6% compared to the same period last year, e to the European Union, however, increased by over 3.3% year on year, returning to growth for the first time since September.
The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade has also said it will hold a global trade and investment conference in Beijing this month.
