AFDC launches distance learning seminar on Free Trade Zone
The second session of the distance learning seminar Series for Asia-Pacific “New Pattern of Global Trade: Opportunities and Challenges for the Emerging Economies” was held on June 10. This series is sponsored by Asia-Pacific Finance and Development Center(AFDC), along with the World Bank, KDI School of Public Policy and Management, and Tokyo Development Learning Center.
In recent years, China witnessed a rapid growth in its foreign trade. In 2012, China has surpassed the US to become the world’s biggest trade country with its overall foreign trade volume reaching $3.87 trillion. However, like the other developing countries, China lacks diversity in its foreign trade structure and received limited sharing in global value chains. Therefore, it’s of China’s top priority to further develop trade in services and enhance its level of investment liberalization to be further integrated into the global economy and contribute to its economic and structural transformation and upgrading.
The theme of this seminar is Free Trade Zone: International experience and local development. About eighty participants including experts, government officials, private sector practitioners and academics attended this video conference seminar from distance learning centers in Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Kenya, Fiji, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Bangladesh and Australia through GDLN. Three speakers from the World Bank, KDI School and Shanghai University of Finance and Economics presented their introductions and case studies of free trade zone as well as special economic zones over the world、Korea and China respectively. In the Q&A session, participants raised questions to discuss with speakers and exchanged views on common interest.
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