The 36th Session of Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) Standing Committee was held on June 21-23 in Ulan Bator, capital of Mongolia. China, Bengal, India, Korea, Laos and Sri Lanka, the six member countries, held talks on subject of the 4th round negotiation: tariff reduce, framework agreement on investment and trade facilitation, non-tariff measures, rule of origin and Mongolia’s accession, and reached extensive consensus.

APTA, previously known as the Bangkok Agreement, was signed in 1975. It, under the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), is a preferential trade agreement between developing countries. With great efforts for years, all member countries constantly enhance the cooperation under the APTA to make trade and economic relations among these countries ever closer. At present, they hold the 4th round negotiation on the APTA so as to reach the goals of deepening the tariff preference and expanding negotiation fields.