Economy and Business

China-ASEN conference heads to Kunming

By Li Yingqing and Guo Anfei
Updated: 2010-09-13 20:18

The first China-ASEN Industry Cooperation Conference will be held from Sep 17 to 19 in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province.

Delegates attending the conference are from governments of China and ASEN, the Chamber of Commerce, and embassies from across the region.

The vice-mayor of Kunming Ruan Fengbin said the trade between Kunming and ASEN increased sharply in recent years. The trade volume increased despite the global economic crisis. The figure reached 1.2 billion dollar in the first seven months of this year, 60 percent up year on year.

China-ASEAN Free Area was established on 1 Jan 2010. At present China and the original members of ASEN levy zero tariff for 90 percent of trade.

The custom in China is average 9.8 percent to other countries, but only 0.1 percent to ASEN. China will offer zero tariffs to four new members of ASEN such as Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.