On August 18, 2022, according to the decision of the Joint Committee of the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), the Working Group on China's Accession to DEPA was formally established to comprehensively advance the negotiation of China's accession to DEPA. The spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce said on August 22 that China welcomes the decision of the DEPA member countries. In the next step, China will make full preparations for joining DEPA under the framework of joining the working group, conduct substantive negotiations with DEPA members, and continue to advance the process of joining.

The spokesperson introduced that on October 30, 2021, when President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the G20 Rome Summit, he announced that China has decided to apply for joining the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement. On November 1, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao formally applied to DEPA depositary New Zealand on behalf of China. Since filing the application, China has conducted dialogues at various levels with DEPA member countries Chile, New Zealand and Singapore, including using different occasions to conduct in-depth communications at the ministerial level; Consultations and seminars on digital laws and regulations to comprehensively answer questions raised by member states about China's digital economy management. DEPA member states appreciate China's efforts and sincerity in joining DEPA, and positively evaluate China's willingness to promote the opening up of the digital economy and mutually beneficial cooperation. After careful evaluation, they decided to agree to the establishment of China's joining working group. China welcomes the decision of the DEPA member states.

The spokesperson pointed out that the establishment of the joining working group means that China will fully advance the negotiations on joining DEPA. The working group will be composed of representatives of DEPA member governments, with Chile as the chairman, and will conduct consultations with China under the framework of the working group to advance the process of China's accession. China is accelerating digital development, building a digital China, and steadily expanding institutional openings such as rules, regulations, management, and standards. China's application to join DEPA and actively promoting the joining process are important actions for China to continue to promote a higher level of opening up. China's accession to DEPA is conducive to promoting the expansion and opening of the digital trade field, establishing an integrated digital trade market with the same rules and compatible standards with its members, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries in the emerging digital field, and bringing digital industry cooperation business opportunities for enterprises , to promote the development of the digital economy of all parties. China's active promotion of the accession process will also enhance the influence of DEPA as a broader international digital economy rule.

In the next step, China will make full preparations for joining DEPA under the framework of joining the working group, conduct substantive negotiations with DEPA members, and continue to advance the process of joining. China is willing to work with other countries to shape an open and safe digital economy development environment, share the dividends of digital economic development, and make positive contributions to promoting the development of the global digital economy.Editor/XingWentao