Beijing, Sept. 16 (BNA): China has applied to join the Comprehensive and Advanced Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), as the world’s second largest economy looks to consolidate its influence in trade, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said.
The Chinese ministry said in a statement late Thursday that Commerce Minister Wang Wentao submitted China’s application to join the FTA in a letter to New Zealand’s Trade Minister Damian O’Connor.
Eleven countries signed up to the CPTPP, including Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan and New Zealand in 2018, Reuters reports.
Joining the CPTPP will be a major boost for China after the 15-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Free Trade Agreement was signed last year.
Britain began negotiations in June to enter into the trade agreement, while Thailand also expressed its desire to join it.
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