An academic seminar on "The Effectiveness and Prospects of China’s FTA Strategy" was successfully held on 3 July 2024 at UIBE, which was organized by the China Institute for WTO Studies (CIWTO) and the Network on International Trade and Investment System (NITIS). The seminar was hosted by Prof. Tu Xinquan, WTO Chairholder at UIBE and Secretary-General of NITIS. Mr. Hong Xiaodong, former Director General of the Department of WTO Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce, delivered the keynote speech. Over 20 experts and scholars from renowned universities and research institutions, including Renmin University of China, China University of Political Science and Law, and UIBE, attended the event. Notably, Mr. Yi Xiaozhun, former Deputy Director-General of the WTO, was also present.

The seminar began with an opening speech by Mr. Yi Xiaozhun, who discussed the significance of multilateral, regional, and bilateral trade negotiations in global economic and trade governance—areas of focus for NITIS. He emphasized that the aim of the seminar was to explore the current direction of China's FTA construction and to provide practical recommendations for aligning FTA strategy with China's Reform and Opening-up policies.

In his keynote speech, Mr. Hong Xiaodong shared research findings on FTA strategy, a key topic of NITIS’s research this year. He argued for the upgrading of FTAs, which involves expanding topics and improving rules, alongside innovating the approach and setting topics flexibly, with a gradual shift from bilateral trade cooperation to broader FTA negotiations.

The subsequent discussion session saw active participation from experts and scholars, including Wei Hongxia, Chief Researcher at the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, Li Gang, Vice President of the China Association of International Trade, Zhang Yansheng, Chief Researcher at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, and others. They engaged with the keynote speaker in a lively exchange of ideas.

This seminar aimed at creating a platform for experts in global economic and trade governance to engage with frontline negotiators, enhance think-tank capabilities, and improve policy recommendations while providing valuable insights for academic research.