China News Service:

What contributions has China made in 2025 in maintaining the multilateral trading system and promoting WTO reform? What steps will China take next to play a more active role in the WTO? Thank you.

Yan Dong:

Thank you for your questions. In 2025, global trade advanced with difficulty amid turbulence. As a major trading nation and a responsible developing country, China has actively taken pragmatic measures to stabilize the international economic and trade order.

First, we continued to uphold the multilateral trading regime. As mentioned just now, China announced that it will not seek special and differential treatment in current and future WTO negotiations. The international community has given high recognition to this, and WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that this move reflects China's solemn commitment to building a more balanced and equitable global trading system.

Second, we deeply participated in WTO reform. China submitted a proposal to the WTO, advocating the safeguarding of basic principles such as non-discrimination, and put forward the working approach of "stability as the cornerstone, development as the priority, and reform as the pathway," which received positive responses from many members. China actively participated in various reform consultations and supported the improvement of WTO functions.

Third, we took the initiative to align with high-standard international economic and trade rules. The Ministry of Commerce, together with relevant departments, issued the "Work Plan on Supporting Beijing's Pioneering in Implementing WTO's Agreement on Electronic Commerce." China became the first member to implement the WTO's Agreement on Electronic Commerce. This demonstrates China's determination to expand high-standard opening up, and also serves as a useful reference for other members to implement the agreement.

Fourth, we continuously improved the level of contract performance and commitment fulfillment. The General Office of the State Council issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening Compliance Work for Trade Policies." Against the backdrop of certain countries abusing unilateral tariffs, China proactively strengthened its trade policy compliance and built a world-class business environment, fully reflecting China's consistent position of firmly safeguarding the multilateral trade system and abiding by WTO rules.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of China's entry into the WTO. China has grown from being a passive recipient and active adapter of rules to an active participant and important contributor, and will take part in WTO work with a more active and open attitude.

First, we will promote the success of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference. China actively advocates for the conference to send out a strong voice in support of the multilateral trading system, and has achieved development-oriented outcomes in issues such as incorporating the investment facilitation agreement into the WTO legal framework and exempting tariffs on electronic transmissions.

Second, we will promote WTO reform in the right direction. China supports improving the decision-making mechanism and calls for more members to join the multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement. China also supports the formulation of new, up-to-date rules on topics such as industrial policy, trade and environment, and trade and artificial intelligence, to better respond to industry demands and the needs of the times.

Third, we will place development at the center of the WTO agenda. China will deepen cooperation with Global South countries, provide more global public goods, continue to support the Trade Promotion Roundtable Initiative, contribute within the framework of South-South cooperation to the best of its ability, enhance the capacity of developing members to participate in international economic and trade negotiations, and help them better benefit from the multilateral trade system.

That's all from me for this question. Thank you.