Recently, the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area launched its upgraded official website (www.asean-cn.org)in Kunming.

The website, approved by the China-ASEAN Economic Cooperation Ministerial Conference, was first put online in January 2010. The upgrade will make it easier for enterprises within the region to keep track of the Free Trade Area’s latest policies, enhance their ability for economic cooperation and facilitate the development of trading, logistics and other sectors.

The upgraded website is divided into four sections, namely those for the trade of goods, services, investment and economic cooperation. Also, the website has now introduced a place-of-origin certificate issuing system, a tariff concession inquiry system and several other trade facilitation systems. Additionally, the portal features a cross-border electronic commerce platform, as well as a network and data centre intended for use by ASEAN countries.

Moreover, according to Yu Yimin, director of the official website’s operation centre, the website will soon launch both a “Partnership Program” and an “SME Cross-border Electronic Commerce Program”. The “Partnership Program” aims to unite institutions and enterprises at home and abroad to build a China-ASEAN trade and investment service network. It will facilitate circulation of commodities within the region and help enterprises to reduce their trade costs and enhance their overall international competitiveness.