2018年CRI China remains staunch supporter of free trade: FM

 

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China will remain a firm supporter of free trade, regional cooperation, and the economic integration¹ of the Asia-Pacific region.

He made the remarks while commenting on China's stance towards the Comprehensive Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership² on the sideline of the ongoing³ Two Sessions or Lianghui in Beijing.

The Comprehensive Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership is due to be signed on March 8 in Chile, and is expected to take effect in 2019.

11 countries have committed to signing up to the agreement. Negotiations⁴ on the agreement continued despite the US falling out of the original Trans-Pacific Partnership after Donald Trump⁵ became president in 2017.

China will not be a signatory to the new Trans-Pacific Partnership. However, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China has been and will remain a firm supporter of free trade.

China helped facilitate the launch of the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area at the annual APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in 2014, and is an active participant in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

"Be it the RCEP or CPTPP, we hope to see better communication, coordination⁶, and interaction between the various free trade initiatives in our region so that they will complement⁷ one another, help resist trade protectionism, and contribute to a more open global economy."

In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Initiative is expected to support efforts towards greater globalization.

On Thursday, Wang Yi dismissed the suggestions from some commentators⁸ that the Belt and Road Initiative lacked openness and transparency. 

"The planning and implementation⁹ of Belt and Road projects has been openly discussed by participants. No country is dominating the process. All parties have an equal say. There are no backroom deals and everything is transparent¹⁰. There's no winner takes all. Every project delivers win-win results."

The minister also dismissed suggestions that plans by the US, Japan, India, and Australia to establish a regional infrastructure¹¹ scheme known as the Indo-Pacific Strategy was a countermove to the Belt and Road. 

"Contrary to the claims made by some academics and media outlets¹² that the Indo-Pacific Strategy aims to contain China, the official position of the four countries is that it targets no one. I hope they mean what they say, and that their action will match their rhetoric¹³. As to the relationship between the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Belt and Road Initiative, let's not forget that the Belt and Road Initiative has received the support of more than 100 countries. People looking to start a new Cold War are out of step with the times. And inciting¹⁴ confrontation¹⁵ will find no market."

Meanwhile, Wang Yi also shed light on US-China trade frictions¹⁶, saying that as the first and second largest economy in the world, the two sides should find a mutually beneficial solution, as their interests are highly intertwined. 

1 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

2 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

3 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

4 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

5 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

6 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

7 complement   

n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足

参考例句：

• The two suggestions complement each other.这两条建议相互补充。
• They oppose each other also complement each other.它们相辅相成。

8 commentators   

n.评论员( commentator的名词复数 )；时事评论员；注释者；实况广播员

参考例句：

• Sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 体育解说员翻来覆去说着同样的词语，真叫人腻烦。
• Television sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 电视体育解说员说来说去就是那么几句话，令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

10 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

11 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

12 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

13 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

14 inciting   

刺激的，煽动的

参考例句：

• What are you up to inciting mutiny and insubordination? 你们干吗在这里煽动骚动的叛乱呀。
• He was charged with inciting people to rebel. 他被控煽动民众起来叛乱。

15 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

16 frictions   

n.摩擦( friction的名词复数 )；摩擦力；冲突；不和

参考例句：

• Family frictions can interfere with a child's schoolwork. 家庭中的争吵会影响孩子的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• As far as we are concerned, these frictions are not of our own making [have been imposed on us]. 就我们来说，这种摩擦是被动式的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》