HEFEI - China will further promote trade facilitation of the China-ASEAN free trade area (FTA), according to a commerce ministry official on Wednesday.

Sun Yuanjiang, the deputy director of the department of international trade and economic affairs under the Ministry of Commerce, made the remarks during a seminar on East Asia Free Trade Area in the eastern city of Ma'anshan.

China will simplify application procedures for preferential certificates of origin and customs clearance for companies from both regions, Sun said.

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Further, a platform will be set up for sharing application and verification information to enhance management transparency, he said.

China will also work to hasten bilateral negotiations on health, plant health, technical barriers and trade facilitation, Sun added.

It will additionally promote trade liberalization and economic and technical cooperation, improve the investment environment and boost people-to-people exchanges with ASEAN members, Sun added.