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1 China to accelerate free-trade negotiations

Feb. 5, 2016 (China Daily) -- The Ministry of Commerce plans to step up the pace of its free trade arrangements with partner countries that off er what it called a high degree of transparency, openness and inclusiveness to the world economy. Noting the signing of the Trans-Pacifi c Partnership on Thursday, which does not include China, a ministry statement said, "China is studying it, and evaluation work is under way." Twelve nations including the United States and Japan signed the TPP in New Zealand on Thursday. The deal, agreed in October after five years of talks, is aimed at promoting trade and investment among countries which hold 40 percent of the world economy.