China's formal application on September 16th to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or the CPTPP, is the latest proof of the country's higher-level opening-up and shows its resolve to make greater contributions to the world economy, experts and government officials said.

On September 16th, China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao submitted the application via a letter to Damien O'Connor, minister for trade and export growth of New Zealand, which is the depositary for the CPTPP.

The two ministers also held a teleconference and communicated on the relevant follow-up work.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a news conference on September 17th that the application showed China's firm determination to expand opening-up and promote regional economic cooperation.

Zhao said: "China will conduct necessary talks with the CPTPP members in accordance with the relevant CPTPP procedures.

"China is a faithful advocate of trade liberalization and facilitation, and also an important participant of regional cooperation and economic integration of the Asia-Pacific."

China signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement with 14 other countries in November 2020. Now, if it also joins the CPTPP, it would help accelerate the economic integration of the Asia-Pacific region, as well as benefit the global economic recovery, trade development and investment growth, Zhao said.

The CPTPP, which took effect on Dec 30, 2018, is a trade agreement among 11 countries: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Their aggregate GDP accounts for 13 percent of the global economy, covering a combined population of about 498 million.