The 50th Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement Standing Committee Meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand on January 11-12. Attending were delegations from its six members--China, Bangladesh, India, Laos, South Korea, Sri Lanka as well as Mongolia, the member-to-be of the agreement.

The meeting aimed to prepare for the Ministerial Meeting of the 4th Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement on January 13. All sides exchanged views on the following topics: the issues concerning the second amendment to Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement, the Ministers’ Declaration, the establishment of industry association for the agreement, launching substantive negotiations on trade facilitation, investment and trade in service under the agreement and the 5th round of tariff reduction negotiation, laying a solid basis for the 4th Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement Ministerial Meeting.