Officials say policy to further open up pilot FTZs a big step

China's new policy measures relating to free trade areas, which were announced on Thursday, will better leverage international and domestic markets as well as resources and promote high-quality development, senior officials said on Friday.

These steps will also bolster China's plan to advance its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, they said during a news conference held by the State Council Information Office.

Chen Chunjiang, assistant minister of commerce, said Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin municipalities and Guangdong and Fujian provinces, as well as the Hainan Free Trade Port, will take pilot steps with a special focus on the trade in goods and services, the temporary entry of business people, digital trade and the business environment.