On August 18, 2022, according to the decision of the Joint Committee of the "Digital Economic Partnership Agreement" (DEPA), the working group for China's accession to DEPA was formally established to comprehensively promote the negotiation of China's accession to DEPA.
On October 30, 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced when attending the 16th G20 Leaders' Summit that China had decided to apply to join DEPA. Two days later, China formally submitted an application for membership. In the process of promoting accession, China and DEPA members New Zealand, Singapore, and Chile conducted dialogues at various levels, held more than ten ministerial-level special talks, two meetings of chief negotiators, and four technical-level informal consultations. Explain China's laws, regulations and regulatory practices in the digital field, and fully demonstrate the prospects of China's cooperation with all parties in the field of digital economy under the DEPA framework. DEPA member countries welcomed China's application for joining DEPA, appreciated China's efforts to join DEPA, and made a decision to establish a working group for China to join DEPA.
In the next step, China will conduct in-depth accession negotiations with member states under the framework of China’s accession to DEPA working group, strive to promote China’s accession process, and strive to formally join DEPA as soon as possible, so as to strengthen cooperation with members in the field of digital economy and promote innovation and sustainable development. contribute.
DEPA was initiated by New Zealand, Singapore, and Chile in May 2019 and signed in June 2020. It is the world's first digital economy regional agreement.