China and 25 Other Countries Sign UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents

Dragon Media News Desk

China, Ghana and 24 other countries became the first signatories to the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents at a ceremony in Accra on Monday. Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Jiang Chenghua signed on behalf of the Chinese government.

Jiang said the convention establishes an international legal framework for financing transactions involving documents used in cross-border transport. It is expected to ease financial pressure on companies engaged in international trade, reduce costs in cross-border overland trade and support global trade development.

China will work with the other signatories to complete domestic approval procedures as soon as possible, Jiang said. He also expressed hope that more countries would join so the convention’s benefits could reach more nations.

Anna Joubin-Bret, secretary of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), said the convention would reduce uncertainty, facilitate trade finance, support digital trade and improve the efficiency of international supply chains. She thanked China for bringing the project to UNCITRAL.

About 400 representatives from more than 60 countries and regions attended the ceremony. Initiated by China, the convention was adopted by the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in December 2025.