More efforts to grow foreign trade

The government has announced a round of measures to boost its flagging trade growth, including the creation of a pilot zone for cross-border e-commerce in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, streamlining the administration of export-tax rebates, and removing a variety of import and export charges.

Wang Shouwen, vice-minister of commerce, said the country will also strengthen previous policy guarantees made to keep foreign trade growth steady, such as on maintaining the basic stability of the renminbi's exchange rate, substantially improving financial services regulation and stepping up support for export credit insurance to reduce the burden on enterprises.

The ministry will accelerate the development of new business models in foreign trade, Wang said, and step up the implementation of guidelines on promoting cross-border e-commerce.