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China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to reduce duties on more than 7,000 kinds of products as of July 1, the Economic Information Daily reported Thursday.

This was disclosed by Zhang Shaogang, an official of the Ministry of Commerce, at a meeting in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, which was attended by more than 160 business representatives and trade officials.

According to a cargo trade agreement previously signed by Chinaand ASEAN, tariffs on a total of 7,445 kinds of products will be gradually cut and even removed starting July 1.

"Lower tariffs will reduce companies' production costs and increase their competitive capability," Zhang said.

Since the tariffs imposed by Thailand on ordinary products, as the agreement stipulates, will be slashed to zero by 2010, Zhang encouraged domestic companies to speed up their production and exports and suggested they actively apply certificates of origins, make full use of the trade privileges and simultaneously standardize their exports to avoid malignant competition at home.

"When trade disputes occur, companies must learn to defend their interests through legitimate means," he said.