On Dec 2nd, the 10th plenary session of the Inter Ministerial Joint Conference on Pilot Free Trade Zone was held in Beijing. It conveyed Xi Jinping's instructions, implemented 20th CPC Congress spirit, promoted the upgrading strategy, greater institutional opening-up and innovation. Wang Wentao presided, emphasizing 15th Five-Year Plan significance and four key aspects for high-quality development.

On Nov 28 local time, WTO released 2025 Goods Trade Barometer: goods trade surged H1 2025 but slowed H2; all component indices except agricultural raw materials (in contraction since start of year) above benchmark. The barometer (predicting 2-3 months trade trend) is still above benchmark, indicating Q4 trade volume growth may slow but remain above trend level.

At WTO's Dec 2 trade policy review, China called on members to fulfill trade measure reporting obligations. WTO DG Ivica noted 80-year severe global trade turbulence but resilience. China criticized US's delayed reporting; EU supported WTO's transparency efforts. The annual report showed import measures coverage reached $2.64T (11.1% of global imports).

The article focuses on China-ASEAN cooperation via the CAFTA 3.0 Protocol, covering digital economy (payments, AI), supply chain connectivity, and SME support (grass fruit, durian), aiming to boost regional integration and shared prosperity.

The article discusses the 20th CPC Central Committee Third Plenary Session's plan to deepen reform for Chinese path to modernization, focusing on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's strategic role, high-level opening up measures (customs innovations, visa policies, trade growth), and China's commitment to wider opening-up.

This interview with Sun Meijun (General Administration of Customs) discusses customs' contributions to high quality development and high level opening up, covering coordinating development & security, enhancing clearance facilitation, promoting trade innovation, aligning with international rules, and Hainan Free Trade Port's full island closure preparation.

In Oct, Zhoushan Port's bulk commodity import exceeded 16 million tons; China's first bulk commodity resource allocation hub in Zhejiang is advancing; Jan-Oct import ~150 million tons (7.1% of national total); Hangzhou Customs optimized regulation to boost efficiency.

Customs enterprise registration and filing archives have evolved from physical paper to digital/intelligent over a decade, reflecting the "streamlining administration, delegating powers, improving services" reform, enabling smart customs and better business environment. Examples include Weihai Customs and a company's fast smart registration, with future plans for further intelligent application.

Shenzhen Customs provided emergency clearance for rescue supplies (drones, blankets, etc.) to Hong Kong's Tai Po fire site via dedicated channels and 7×24 mechanism, aiding affected compatriots from Nov 27 to 30.

The 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) is upcoming. Customs archivists have recorded 7 previous CIIEs with archives (97 docs, 462 photos, etc.), which help optimize supervision (e.g., 50% shorter clearance time) and witness China's opening-up. Customs will continue the "pre-collection+full follow-up" mode for this year's CIIE.

Shanghai Customs statistics show CIIE has attracted over 4100 exhibits (8B+ yuan) since 2018. The 8th CIIE is opening; 289 batches (176M yuan) cleared as of Oct 31. New "Import Expo Express" mode debuts for bonded jewelry, cutting transit risks. Customs archived docs/photos/audio/physical items and supported 74 global product batches' China debut.

Under global uncertainty, China's super large market (with 1.4b people, complete industrial system, etc.) is the foundation for its high-level opening-up, enhancing foreign investment attraction, global economic governance discourse, supply chain resilience, requiring internal reforms, and being a win-win link for China-world economy interaction.

China advocates open and inclusive Asia Pacific cooperation at the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, highlighting APEC's role, triple significance of regional cooperation, and China's specific initiatives to promote Asia Pacific prosperity.

On Nov 26, China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao held a video conference with EU's Shevchovich to discuss Anshi Semiconductor issues, global semiconductor supply chain stability, and China-EU export controls. Both agreed to urge relevant enterprises to communicate for long-term solutions.

The China-Tonga Framework Agreement focuses on flexible negotiations, expanding bilateral trade, supporting Tonga's investment attraction, industrialization/agricultural modernization, and global supply chain cooperation. It deepens their comprehensive strategic partnership and elevates economic and trade relations.

On November 20th, the 11th RCEP Joint Committee meeting was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand. 15 member countries and the ASEAN Secretariat attended. It aims to implement leaders' consensus, promote agreement implementation, new members joining, 2027 review preparation and improve RCEP mechanism.

2025 marks the 30th anniversary of WTO's establishment. It reviews WTO's role in global trade, challenges like unilateralism, China's contributions as a member, and its stance on WTO reform. The international community should uphold the rules-based multilateral trading system centered on WTO.

The WTO faces critical challenges but global trade in goods will grow 2.4% this year. Its reform (core of 2026 14th Ministerial Conference) emphasizes three aspects: building on existing system, updating rules, and adapting to digital/AI trends. China’s stance demonstrates reform progress, with most members supporting it to maintain WTO’s credibility.

The 15th Five-Year Plan proposes balanced imports and exports to address China's trade surplus, improve foreign trade quality, and build a strong trading nation. It emphasizes using imports to drive domestic consumption upgrading and industrial transformation, share opportunities, and combines stabilizing exports with expanding imports via targeted measures, advancing towards a trading powerhouse.

According to Hainan's Department of Commerce, the modern service industry of Hainan Free Trade Port grew at an average annual rate of 9% (2018-2024), with 351.59 billion yuan added value in the first three quarters of this year. Supported by opening-up policies (finance, logistics, medical tourism, education etc.), it's thriving, becoming a shipping hub, seeing booming medical tourism and attracting overseas universities, ushering in a new round of rapid development.