Along with the development and promotion of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, China seems to be embracing a new enthusiasm for free trade agreements (FTAs).

Shen Danyang, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, said on Wednesday that China will actively promote FTA negotiations with countries and regions along the routes of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The remarks came several days ahead of the release of China's foreign trade data for 2015.    

Once a key engine of economic growth, China's export-oriented sectors are currently having a hard time.

The country's trade figures continued to fall year-on-year in November, making it nearly certain that 2015 will be the fourth consecutive year in which the country has failed to hit its yearly trade growth target.

The persistent sluggish trade shows the urgent need for China to diversify trade destinations as some of the country's traditional export markets like Japan are seeing only modest economic recovery. In this regard, the "One Belt, One Road" initiative is likely to offer new potential for China's export-oriented sectors, as the plan covers a number of emerging economies with burgeoning consumer markets.

Official data shows that China's exports to countries and regions along the routes accounted for 27.2 percent of the total during the first 10 months of 2015, while the overall trade volume between China and the countries and regions along the routes accounted for 25.4 percent of China's total trade in the same period.

China is striving to upgrade its trade structure by moving toward more high-end equipment, for which demand is strong in some of the countries along the routes.

China aims to make further progress in this regard and help exporters diversify their overseas markets.

The State Council, China's cabinet, announced in December guidelines to speed up implementation of FTA strategies.

Shen's remarks on Wednesday make it clear that China may bind its new FTA strategies and the "One Belt, One Road" initiative together to promote trade, export development and investment within the region.

According to Shen, negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which includes China and countries along the routes, are expected to be concluded by the end of this year. Shen also said that China will launch new free trade talks with countries along the routes such as Israel at an appropriate time.

The FTA negotiations are expected not only to cut tariffs, but also to involve relaxing regulations for trade in services and capital controls.

The combination of FTA strategies and the "One Belt, One Road" initiative could help China ease the sluggish trade situation, even though many tough challenges still lie ahead.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. bizopinion@globaltimes.com.cn