WTO entry catalyst for ASEAN FTA

China's admission to the WTO brought forward the establishment of a free trade area (FTA) between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Xu Ningning, executive secretary-general of the China-ASEAN Business Council, said.

Xu recalled that when he and other Chinese representatives negotiated with ASEAN counterparts about setting up an FTA back in 2001, some Malaysian officials said: "If we cannot defeat you, we will join you."

China and ASEAN signed the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation in November 2002 and slashed tariffs substantially on more than 500 kinds of products in 2004. The China and ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) finally came into effect in January 2010.