Containers are loaded on a cargo vessel at Nansha Port in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 29, 2025. (Photo: China News Service)

China has achieved positive progress in its negotiations to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), reaffirming its commitment to high-standard international economic and trade rules, a Chinese official with the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said during a ministerial meeting held on the sidelines of the APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting in Jeju, South Korea on Friday. 

China international trade representative with the MOFCOM and Vice Minister of Commerce Li Chenggang attended the meeting on Thursday, which was chaired by Claudia Sanhueza, Chile's vice minister of International Economic Relations and head of the Accession Working Group on China's accession to DEPA. Li said China has maintained close engagement with DEPA members at various levels since the working group was established, fully demonstrating the nation's resolve to meet the high standards of the pact.

"China is committed to advancing high-level opening-up and aligning with international economic and trade rules of the highest standard," Li said, noting that China's accession to DEPA will unlock greater market opportunities for all parties and contribute positively to the long-term development of the agreement and global digital economy governance.

He added that China is willing to explore innovative approaches with DEPA members to accelerate negotiations and achieve more substantive outcomes.

DEPA members welcomed China's progress in the accession process, praising the deepened mutual understanding of digital governance frameworks and expressing readiness to further strengthen engagement at all levels to move the negotiations forward.

China formally applied to join DEPA on November 1, 2021. The working group for its accession was launched on August 18, 2022, following a decision by the DEPA Joint Committee.

Global Times