China officially applies to join CPTPP

On Thursday (September 16), China officially applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). 

The matter was revealed to the media by the country's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) in a statement issued in connection to this yesterday. 

In a written letter, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao submitted the application to New Zealand's Trade Minister Damien O'Connor, reports Chinese media CTGN citing the statement. 

Signed in 2018, CPTPP is a free trade agreement between 11 countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and Vietnam.

The 11 CPTPP members represent about $13.5 trillion in GDP, or 13.4 percent of global GDP, making it one of the world's largest trade deals.

New Zealand is the depository of the agreement.