China will hold substantive talks with depa members

On August 18, according to the decision of the Joint Committee of the digital economic partnership agreement (depa), the working group on China's accession to depa was officially established to comprehensively promote the negotiations on China's accession to depa. When answering reporters' questions on the relevant situation on August 22, a spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce said that China welcomes the decision of depa member states. Next, China will make full preparations for joining depa under the framework of the accession working group, conduct substantive negotiations with depa members and continue to promote the accession process.
  On November 1, Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce, formally applied to New Zealand, the depositary of depa, on behalf of China. Since the submission of the application, China and depa member countries Chile, New Zealand and Singapore have conducted dialogues at various levels, including in-depth communication at the ministerial level on different occasions; Held two meetings of chief negotiators, many technical level consultations and digital laws and regulations seminars with depa Member States to comprehensively answer the questions raised by Member States on China's digital economy management. Depa member states appreciate China's efforts and sincerity to join depa, and positively evaluate China's willingness to promote the opening up and mutually beneficial cooperation of the digital economy. After careful evaluation, they decided to agree to establish a working group on China's accession. China welcomes the decision of depa member states.
The spokesman pointed out that the establishment of the working group on China's accession means that China will comprehensively promote the negotiations on its accession to depa. The working group will be composed of representatives of depa member governments and chaired by Chile. Under the framework of the working group, the working group will carry out consultations with China to promote the process of China's accession.
The spokesman stressed that China is the second largest digital economy in the world. It is accelerating the development of digitalization, building a digital China, and steadily expanding the institutional opening of rules, regulations, management and standards. China's application to join depa and its active promotion of the accession process fully reflect China's positive willingness to integrate with high-standard international digital rules and expand international cooperation in the digital economy. It is an important action for China to continue to promote a higher level of opening up. China's accession to depa is conducive to promoting the wider opening up of the digital trade field, establishing an integrated digital trade market with members that has the same rules and compatible standards, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation with countries in the emerging digital field, bringing business opportunities for digital industry cooperation for enterprises and promoting the development of digital economy of all parties. China's active promotion of the accession process will also enhance the influence of depa as a broader international digital economy rule.
"Next, China will make full preparations for joining depa under the framework of the working group on accession, conduct substantive negotiations with depa members, and continue to promote the accession process. China is willing to work with other countries to create an open and safe environment for digital economy development, share the dividends of digital economy development, and make positive contributions to promoting the development of the global digital economy." The spokesman said.