China upgrades FTA with Singapore, reports new trade routes coming

BEIJING - Chinese media is reporting that Premier Li Keqiang signed an upgraded bilateral free trade pact with Singapore during his visit this week. The revisions are said to ease trade by slimming down red tape on shipment origins and customs procedures, while assuring greater service trade and investment protection.

China's State newsagency, Xinhua, said that Premier Li's visit to Singapore also saw the agreement of the construction of a land-sea transport corridor, establishing new cargo routes connecting China to Southeast Asia.

Xinhua said the corridor would help China further open up, while creating a shortcut for Southeast Asian countries to enter the Chinese market. www.webershandwick.cn (ATI.