China News reported from Beijing on 22 October 2026 that Vice Minister of Commerce Jiang Chenghua said that since China reached its first free trade agreement with ASEAN in 2002, China has signed 26 FTAs with 33 countries and regions. FTA partners (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) account for 45% of China's foreign trade and 70% of the foreign investment it attracts, and a global FTA network has taken initial shape.
Speaking at a State Council Information Office press conference, Jiang said that in 2026 China completed upgrade negotiations on its FTA with Switzerland and signed an upgrade protocol to its FTA with Georgia. Under the China-Switzerland upgrade, goods eventually traded at zero tariff will exceed 99% of trade value for both sides, and the upgraded agreement adds rules on digital trade, artificial intelligence, and trade and sustainable development. The Georgia upgrade expands provisions on investment, e-commerce, sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade.
China has also signed framework agreements on economic partnership for common development with 40 African countries, framework agreements on enhanced economic partnership with 8 Pacific Island countries, and early harvest arrangements with the Republic of the Congo, Kenya and Seychelles.
According to customs statistics, China's trade with FTA partners reached 19.55 trillion yuan in the first three quarters, up 30% and contributing more than 70% of the growth in China's foreign trade.