New measures aim to help foreign trade companies keep orders stable, expand markets: official

China has unveiled a slew of new policy measures which aim to help foreign trade companies cope with the changing international situation while maintaining stable orders and expand their market reach, an official from China's Ministry of Commerce said on Friday.

According to a notice issued by the ministry on Thursday, a total of nine measures will be implemented to promote the steady growth of foreign trade and consolidate the economic recovery.

Insurance companies are encouraged to increase underwriting support for the specialized small and medium-sized enterprises which have been dubbed "little giant" and "hidden champion" firms, to help their efforts in expanding into more diversified markets, according to the notice.

Financial institutions are also urged to enhance financial support for micro, small and medium enterprises, and help businesses to improve exchange rate risk management, the notice said.

In terms of fostering new drivers of foreign trade, the notice said efforts should be made to optimize cross-border trade settlements, promote the development of cross-border e-commerce, expand agricultural product exports, and support the imports of key equipment and energy resources.

China will also drive innovative development in green trade and border trade, attract and facilitate cross-border business travel, according to the notice.

In addition, efforts will be made to attract and facilitate cross-border business travel, enhance maritime transport support for foreign trade, and strengthen employment services for foreign trade enterprises, according to the notice.

At a press conference on Friday morning, Wang Shouwen, China's Vice Commerce Minister and international trade representative, said these measures are part of China's ongoing efforts to promote foreign trade growth.

"Moving forward, the Ministry of Commerce will work with local authorities and relevant departments to closely monitor foreign trade operations, analyze changing conditions, ensure the implementation of foreign trade-related policies, and help foreign trade enterprises keep orders stable and expand markets, so as to provide strong support for sustained economic recovery and growth," said Wang.

In the first ten months of this year, China's foreign goods trade rose 5.2 percent year on year to exceed 36 trillion yuan (about 5 trillion U.S. dollars), with exports and imports up 6.7 percent and 3.2 percent respectively, official data showed.

New measures aim to help foreign trade companies keep orders stable, expand markets: official

Song Tao, the mainland's senior Taiwan affairs official, on Wednesday called on Taiwan businesspeople and compatriots to actively participate in cross-Strait exchanges and jointly strengthen China's economy.

Song, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks at a seminar for Taiwan businesspeople in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. 　　 The mainland will provide new opportunities and broad prospects for the development of Taiwan businesspeople and compatriots, and improve the mechanisms and policies for exchanges and cooperation in cultural and economic sectors between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, Song said.　　

He called on Taiwan businesspeople and compatriots to uphold the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle, and to take a clear-cut stance against separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence" and external interventions.

At the seminar, representatives of Taiwan's industry and commerce organizations, enterprises and young entrepreneurs pledged to participate actively in cooperation and integrated development of industrial and supply chains on both sides of the Strait, and to achieve high-quality development.

They also expressed the willingness of Taiwan compatriots and enterprises to make new contributions to boosting cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, to promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and to realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Taiwan senior official urges business community, compatriots to jointly strengthen China's economy