El Salvador and the People’s Republic of China have successfully completed three rounds of negotiations toward establishing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) aimed at enhancing trade relations and mutual development between both nations.

According to Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yanhui, the discussions have made significant progress and are nearing completion. “We will promote the negotiation and signing of more FTAs with different countries, and one of them is El Salvador. China has held three in-depth rounds of negotiations; we have almost reached an agreement. I hope that it can be signed and enter into force next year,” he stated.

This initiative aligns with China’s strategic objectives for its upcoming five-year plan, which extends through 2030. The plan seeks to increase imports—including Salvadoran products such as sugar, coffee, and tropical fruits—while fostering technological development and innovation. It also emphasizes improving income distribution, boosting self-sufficiency, and reducing reliance on volatile global markets.

Ambassador Zhang underscored that one of China’s main goals for the next five years is to stimulate domestic consumption. “Given that the United States continues to impose obstacles to exports and foreign trade, China is focusing its efforts on its own market, which has 1.4 billion consumers,” he explained.

By 2030, China expects domestic consumption to represent 60% of its economic activity, reinforcing its internal market strength while opening new opportunities for partner nations such as El Salvador.