Beijing, China - July 18, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Press conference in progress
2. Various of reporters, camera crew
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wang Wentao, Chinese Commerce Minister:
"China is accelerating high-standard opening-up and expanding win-win cooperation. China has consistently reduced items on the negative list for foreign investment, lifting all market access restrictions for foreign investment in the manufacturing sector, while launching opening-up trials in the service sector, such as value-added telecom services and biotechnology. The 22 pilot free trade zones have effectively served as pilot platforms for comprehensive reform and opening-up, taking the initiative to align with high-standard international economic and trade rules to be a pioneer. China has systematically expanded for voluntary and unilateral opening up, and granted zero-tariff treatment to 100 percent of tariff lines for all least developed countries and African countries with which it has diplomatic relations. The country is committed to the high-quality implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) while actively advancing its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA). By 2024, China's trade with Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners (including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) accounted for 43 percent of the country's total goods trade."

FILE: Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, south China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
4. Aerial shot of Nansha section of China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ)

FILE: Tianjin Municipality, north China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
5. Aerial shot of China (Tianjin) Pilot FTZ

FILE: Shanghai, east China - 2020 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. Sign of China (Shanghai) Pilot FTZ

FILE: Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, south China - Exact Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
7. Sign of Qianhai-Shekou Area of China (Guangdong) Pilot FTZ
8. Aerial shot of Qianhai-Shekou Area of China (Guangdong) FTZ

FILE: Xiamen City, Fujian Province, east China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
9. Aerial shots of Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot FTZ, containers, facilities at port

China is accelerating high-standard opening up and expanding win-win cooperation through various efforts, including providing wider market access, aligning pilot free trade zones with global economic rules, and granting zero-tariff treatment, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said in Beijing on Friday.

At a press conference, Wang elaborated on the achievements in the high-quality development of commerce during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

"China is accelerating high-standard opening-up and expanding win-win cooperation. China has consistently reduced items on the negative list for foreign investment, lifting all market access restrictions for foreign investment in the manufacturing sector, while launching opening-up trials in the service sector, such as value-added telecom services and biotechnology. The 22 pilot free trade zones have effectively served as pilot platforms for comprehensive reform and opening-up, taking the initiative to align with high-standard international economic and trade rules to be a pioneer," Wang said.

"China has systematically expanded for voluntary and unilateral opening up, and granted zero-tariff treatment to 100 percent of tariff lines for all least developed countries and African countries with which it has diplomatic relations. The country is committed to the high-quality implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) while actively advancing its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA). By 2024, China's trade with Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners (including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) accounted for 43 percent of the country's total goods trade," he said.