Thailand To Host 28th ASEAN-China FTA Conference

Thailand to host 28th ASEAN-China FTA conference

Thailand is scheduled to host the 28th ASEA-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) conference on February 18th-20th.

Deputy Director-General of the Department of Trade Negotiations, Winijchai Chaemchang (วินิจฉัย แจ่มแจ้ง), reports that issues which will be discussed during the conference include investment liberalization. China has refused to liberalize its investment and ASEAN wants to conclude the issue during the conference, he says.

According to the deputy director-general China has submitted proposals on ASEAN-China FTA to ten ASEAN countries while there are only four countries in the region which have submitted the same kind of proposals, including Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Mr Winijchai says further that the conference will revise trade agreements and cancel non-tax barriers between ASEAN and China. It will also consider expediting tax reductions and outlining measures to facilitate trade.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 February 2008