Adhere to multilateralism and share trade dividends
The 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization was held in Yaound é, the capital of Cameroon, from March 26th to 30th local time. After intensive consultations among representatives from all parties, the meeting achieved multiple practical results, demonstrating the resilience of the multilateral trading system and revitalizing the international community's confidence in the multilateral trading system. During the conference, the Chinese delegation fully participated in the consultations on various issues, actively coordinated the positions of relevant members, worked hard to bridge differences, and made important contributions to the achievement of the conference results. The constructive role played by China has been highly appreciated by all parties present.
Enable developing countries to fully benefit from multilateral trade
Currently, the multilateral trading system is facing serious impacts due to the combination of geopolitical conflicts, trade frictions, and other factors. In her speech, the Director General of the World Trade Organization, Ivira, stated that "the global trading system is experiencing the most severe turbulence in 80 years. At this time of turbulence and uncertainty, holding this conference is timely." She called on the attending representatives to jointly explore issues such as governance, development, and fair competition, in order to promote the World Trade Organization to better adapt to the new global economic landscape.
The WTO Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of the WTO, held every two years, responsible for promoting progress in negotiations on key issues, reviewing the daily work of the WTO, and planning the future development direction of the multilateral trading system. More than 120 delegations and over 80 ministers from 166 members of the World Trade Organization attended this conference.
This is the second time that the World Trade Organization has held a ministerial conference in Africa, following the 10th Ministerial Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2015. The agenda setting of the meeting has a distinct development orientation and African characteristics. The conference set up topics related to the clothing industry chain, focusing on enhancing the added value of cotton in local textile and garment production in Central and West African countries, promoting the extension of the industry chain, and creating employment opportunities.
The chairman of this conference and Minister of Commerce of Cameroon, Atangana, stated that the conference is committed to promoting WTO reform and enabling developing countries, especially African countries, to fully benefit from multilateral trade.
Currently, Africa is still at a disadvantage in the global trading system, with a large number of commodities exported in the form of primary products with low added value. "Ivira said in an interview with our reporter that as Africa's position in the multilateral trading system continues to rise, Africa must enhance its product added value and competitiveness, integrate more deeply into the global trading system, and gradually improve its position in the global value chain.
This conference released a joint ministerial statement on the Investment Facilitation Agreement for Development, marking an important step towards the implementation of the world's first multilateral investment agreement; The temporary implementation arrangement of the Electronic Commerce Agreement will effectively promote the development of global digital trade; Ministerial decisions were reached on issues such as fisheries subsidies, small economies, inspection and quarantine, and special and differential treatment of technical regulations and measures; Significant consensus has been reached on the reform of the World Trade Organization.
Contribute China's strength to maintaining the multilateral trading system
China attaches great importance to the role of the World Trade Organization, practices true multilateralism, actively promotes pragmatic progress in this ministerial conference, and contributes Chinese strength to maintaining the multilateral trading system. In the past period, China has actively promoted the negotiation process of the Investment Facilitation Agreement for Development, supporting developing members to enhance the transparency and facilitation level of investment policies; Continuously promote discussions on topics such as e-commerce and digital trade, and push for the improvement of global digital trade rules.
As the largest developing member of the World Trade Organization, China actively supports the integration of developing countries, especially the least developed countries, into the multilateral trading system. During the conference, the WTO Secretariat held the 14th "China Project" roundtable meeting. The Chinese side held a high-level conference on "Assisting Africa's Industrialization: Chinese Investment", which focused on in-depth exchanges on issues such as capacity building, investment cooperation, and industrial development, and built an important platform combining South South cooperation and multilateral cooperation. Ivira believes that the "China Project" continues to assist relevant members in advancing the process of joining the World Trade Organization and better participating in the global trading system through technical assistance and experience sharing.
The "China Project" was jointly established by China and the WTO Secretariat in 2011 and has become an important mechanism to support the integration of the least developed countries into the multilateral trading system. At this year's "China Project" roundtable, members such as Cambodia, Comoros, and Kazakhstan shared cases of the World Trade Organization helping them accelerate market reforms, attract foreign investment, better enter the global market, and accelerate economic diversification. The Chinese side stated that it will continue to implement and do a good job in the "China project", providing support around institutional construction, negotiation capabilities, and policy coordination, and promoting more developing members to share the benefits of multilateral trade.
Representatives from participating African countries highly praised China's role. Atanga stated that China has long been committed to promoting a rules based multilateral trading system, adhering to common development, and investing in infrastructure, energy, and industries to provide key support for Africa's industrialization, which will help change Africa's marginal position in global trade.
Persist in unity and cooperation to jointly address global challenges
The attending delegates believe that against the backdrop of intensifying geopolitical conflicts and the rise of unilateralism, this conference has demonstrated the value and resilience of the multilateral trading system. The partial achievements of the meeting and the clear arrangement of consultations on unresolved issues reflect the determination of WTO members to prioritize development and their responsibility to unite and cooperate to jointly address global challenges.
The Chinese side stated that it will work with other members to conscientiously implement the results of the conference, actively participate in the consultations on outstanding issues, and promote the WTO to play a greater role in maintaining the stability of the international economic and trade order and improving global economic governance.
China practices true multilateralism and supports the participation of developing countries in global trade governance, especially playing a key role in promoting the accession of the least developed countries to the World Trade Organization, demonstrating its firm support for inclusive economic globalization, "said Kassaung Gofei, Minister of Trade and Regional Integration of Ethiopia.
China will fully implement zero tariff measures for all African countries with diplomatic relations, creating important opportunities for Africa to integrate into the global trading system, "said Elizabeth Ofusu Ajare, Minister of Trade, Rural Commerce and Industry of Ghana. This measure provides unprecedented convenience for Ghana's cocoa, textiles and other processed products to enter the Chinese market, and will effectively promote the industrialization process of Africa.
China is an important partner in the development process of Africa, playing a positive role in infrastructure construction, industrial cooperation, and market opening, "said Nigeria's Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Auduwole. Faced with profound changes in the global trade pattern, African countries and China should strengthen coordination, deepen cooperation in manufacturing, digital economy, and emerging industries, jointly maintain the rules based multilateral trading system, and provide stable support for the normal operation of the global trading system.