Regional integration more useful than TPP

Speculations over China possibly joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, which the United States withdrew from in January, have finally been laid to rest. On China's role in free trade following the US' exit from the TPP, Premier Li Keqiang said at a news conference on Wednesday that China is committed to promoting free trade through regional economic frameworks.

The explanation follows the Foreign Ministry statement making it clear China will not change its stance on the TPP.

A delegation led by China's Special Representative on Latin American Affairs Yin Hengmin attended a two-day economic dialogue in Chile. Confirming Yin's participation in the talks, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday that the meeting, which ended on Wednesday, was not only about the TPP, as wrongly reported by some media outlets, but also about "extensively comparing notes on future cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region". She also said China's stance on the TPP, which is to "work with all parties concerned to push for Asia-Pacific economic integration", has not changed.