Jakarta, Nov. 20 (VNA) - ASEAN and China signed a protocol to implement the second package of commitments under the ASEAN-China Trade in Services Agreement (AC-TIS) on the sidelines of the ASEAN-China Summit in Bali, Indonesia on Nov. 19.
Addressing the signing ceremony, Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN Secretary General said that the protocol will further liberalise trade and services among 10 ASEAN member countries and China with substantial improvement in their level of commitments on trade in services, contributing to boosting trade and investment between ASEAN and China.
Under the new protocol, the eleven countries will expand the sectoral coverage of their commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and the first package of AC-TIS, further liberalise the level of restrictions and remove discriminatory measures in those commitments.
Signed in 2007, AC – TIS serves as a foundation for the two sides to continue negotiations on commitment packages to strengthen trade and investment cooperation./.
Source: Vietnam News Agency
