China Daily:

According to the website of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the organization's 12th Ministerial Conference will be held in November. The WTO is now facing challenges, and all parties have paid close attention to how the WTO will get through the difficulties. My question is that after the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, what role has China played in safeguarding the multilateral trading system? Additionally, what achievements can we expect from the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference? Thanks.

Wang Wentao:

Your question is a timely and professional one. All parties have attached great importance to it. This question goes to Mr. Wang Shouwen.

Wang Shouwen:

Thanks for your question. Just as you mentioned, the WTO is currently facing severe challenges, and is in a difficult situation. For example, the WTO Appellate Body has been paralyzed, making it quite hard to defend justice in international trade. In terms of facilitating trade negotiation, it's not easy to reach multilateral trade agreements now. In particular, some countries have politicized trade issues and taken unilateral and protectionist trade measures, greatly undermining the efficacy and authority of the multilateral trading system. As a responsible member of the WTO, China has always been an active participant in all the work and trade negotiations of the WTO since it joined the organization. China was and remains committed to supporting the multilateral trading system and has actively participated in relevant reforms to the WTO. China is an active participant, strong supporter and major contributor in the multilateral trading system. 

You asked about the work we have done in the WTO since the 18th CPC National Congress. Let me give you an example. In 2013, China actively participated in the WTO Ministerial Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, and worked hard towards the conclusion of the Trade Facilitation Agreement. The full implementation of the agreement has successfully cut the cost of international trade by around 14%. In 2015, China took an active part in the WTO Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, during which we agreed to eliminate export subsidies for agricultural products, which was a boon for agricultural trade liberalization. Also, during this conference, as an important participant, China actively pushed for the conclusion of an agreement on expanding the products covered by the Information Technology Agreement, involving a global trade volume of over one trillion U.S. dollars. This was a significant contribution. In addition, China has played an active and important role in advancing negotiations on topics including investment facilitation, e-commerce, and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

General Secretary Xi Jinping has reaffirmed on many international occasions China's commitment to firmly upholding WTO rules, supporting necessary reforms to the WTO and jointly safeguarding the multilateral trading system with other members. China has made great efforts towards reform of the WTO. In June of 2018, a white paper titled "China and the World Trade Organization" was released, explaining China's concrete measures to support the multilateral trading system. In November of 2018, China released its position paper on WTO reform, outlining three principles and five suggestions for reform. In May of 2019, China submitted its WTO reform proposals for concrete actions concerning 12 topics in four areas. This is also the first reform proposal submitted by a developing country to the WTO. In November of 2019, China hosted the Informal WTO Ministerial Meeting in Shanghai and encouraged all parties to reach an important consensus on safeguarding the multilateral trading system. China, the European Union and other WTO members agreed last April on an interim appeal arbitration arrangement while the organization's Appellate Body remains incapable. In other multilateral mechanisms of global governance, including the G20, APEC and the BRICS, China has also advocated to support the multilateral trading system. On all such occasions, China has stated its position on building an open world economy and a community with a shared future for mankind. 

The 12th WTO Ministerial Conference you mentioned will be the first in four years. The last Ministerial Conference took place in Argentina in 2017. There are many expectations for the upcoming conference. In our opinion, the extent to how many achievements will be made during the conference is of great significance to enhancing the WTO's image and the international community's confidence in the WTO. We expect that achievements will be made in negotiations on fishing subsidies and the fight against COVID-19. We hope there will be some arrangements regarding the reform of the Appellate Body. We are also looking forward to positive progress in service domestic regulation, investment facilitation and e-commerce. Such outcomes will all help enhance the international community's confidence in the efficacy and authority of the WTO. To achieve these, we will support Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the WTO, in organizing and coordinating effective negotiations among WTO members, to achieve practical progress and fully demonstrate the organization's value and role. 

This year marks the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the WTO and also the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan. China will open its door even wider to the world. We will work, in line with the arrangements made by the CPC Central Committee, to propose China's suggestions and approaches for WTO negotiations and reform. In addition to accelerating the building of the new development paradigm and the promotion of high-level opening-up, we will join hands with our trade partners across the globe to make economic globalization open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all. Thanks.