China's WTO reform proposal on development received positive response from members

Geneva, September 29 (Xinhua) -- The World Trade Organization held a special meeting on "Development Track" reform on the 28th. Chinese Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization, Li Yongzhao, introduced the proposal of "Further Thoughts and Suggestions on China's WTO Reform" at the meeting, and put forward systematic proposals on the positioning of development issues in WTO reform, which have received widespread attention and positive responses from all parties.

Li Yongzhao pointed out that in the more than 30 years since the establishment of the World Trade Organization, the proportion of developing economies in the global economy and trade has significantly increased, but many developing members still face constraints in export diversification and production capacity enhancement. China advocates always placing development at the center of WTO reform and promoting specific discussions in a problem oriented manner; The "development track" of WTO reform should play a coordinating role in addressing systemic issues across committees and agreements.

Li Yongzhao proposed that members can first sort out the specific opportunities and challenges faced by developing members in integrating into the multilateral trading system. Based on identifying the problems, they can comprehensively examine existing rules, tools, and mechanisms, and explore new solutions when necessary.

Li Yongzhao stated that reform should address both long-term and emerging issues in a coordinated manner, including examining how new fields such as digital trade and green transformation can promote development from a development perspective. China opposes the use of so-called "objective criteria" to determine whether developing members are eligible for special and differential treatment, and advocates summarizing the practical experience of WTO development tools such as needs assessment to enhance the pertinence and effectiveness of development support.

The attending members responded positively to the Chinese proposal. Brazil, the African Group, Pakistan, India, and Indonesia support placing development at the core of reform and agree that complex and diverse development needs cannot be measured by simple quantitative indicators. Pakistan believes that the Chinese approach of "identifying problems first, then researching tools" reflects the correct sequence of "diagnosing first, then developing solutions". Japan, the European Union, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Australia have positively evaluated the proposal's pragmatic approach and support further discussions on the needs assessment, cross institutional cooperation, and experience exchange proposed in the Chinese proposal.