China firmly advocates trade liberalization and facilitation, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Friday.
Mao made the comment in response to a media query on the progress of China's bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
"China's position on the CPTPP is consistent and clear. China firmly advocates trade liberalization and facilitation and actively participates in the regional cooperation and economic integration of the Asia-Pacific. We have taken the initiative to align with high-standard international trade rules, taken proactive steps to expand opening up, and advanced the process of joining the CPTPP. We are in contact, communication and consultation with all parties on this," she said.
China upholds trade liberalization, facilitation: spokeswoman
The Hainan International Ship Registration Administration was inaugurated at the Yangpu Port in the southern island province of Hainan on Friday, to boost the high-quality development of China's shipping industry.
As China's first-ever registration and management authority for international ships, the Hainan International Ship Registration Administration is mainly responsible for the registration, comprehensive quality management, inspection and supervision, policy research and other related work for international ships with registries under China's Yangpu Port.
The inauguration of the administration is an important step in accelerating the construction of a world-class free trade port with Chinese characteristics, as well as a concrete practice of promoting the high-quality development of the country's shipping industry.
Since the release of the Master Plan for the Development of Hainan Free Trade Port on June 1, 2020, nearly 700 new shipping entities have been established across the island, while 47 ships have been newly registered under or transferred to the Yangpu Port, said the administration, adding that they have created an additional 5.33 million deadweight tonnes of international shipping capacity for Hainan, making it rank among the top in China.
Thanks to favorable policies issued by the government for the Yangpu Port, Hainan's shipping industry has experienced vigorous growth, with various essential sectors of the industrial development rapidly converging there.
China unveils its first int'l ship registration administration in Hainan
