China officially applies to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, September 16, 2021. /CFP

China has officially applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the country's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Thursday.

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao submitted the application to New Zealand's Trade Minister Damien O'Connor in a written letter, MOFCOM said in a statement.

Signed in 2018, CPTPP is a free trade agreement between 11 countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and Vietnam.

The 11 CPTPP members represent about $13.5 trillion in GDP, or 13.4 percent of global GDP, making it one of the world's largest trade deals.

New Zealand is the depository of the agreement.