China, which became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
a year ago, has made tremendous efforts to implement its
commitments and is fully participating in the new round of
multilateral trade talks, said Sun Zhenyu, Chinese ambassador to
the WTO.
On
the occasion of the first anniversary of China's accession to the
world trade body, Sun said in an interview that China has revised
many domestic laws and regulations in order to comply with WTO
rules. It has reduced tariffs and quotas, and opened the service
trade to WTO members in line with its commitments.
Sun said China's efforts and achievements in the past year have won
wide recognition among WTO members. Both the former WTO
Director-General Mike Moore and current Direct-General Supachai
Panitchpakdi have voiced their feeling that China is a qualified
and responsible member.
The Chinese Government attaches great importance to the new round
of multilateral trade negotiations, Sun said.
Since last November, China has sent more than 50 negotiating groups
to Geneva to participate in negotiations on various topics. On the
agricultural front, China has put forward proposals which attracted
the attention of all WTO members and support from developing
members.
Sun said Chinese institutions are fully involved in discussions on
issues such as the environment and a range of other topics that are
likely to be raised at the fifth WTO ministerial meeting in Mexico
next year.
Regarding China's position on the new round of trade negotiations,
the ambassador said that building a new multilateral trading system
should help establish a balanced, fair and rational international
economic order.
The trade system should foster development of the world economy,
facilitate trade and investment, and balance the interests of
developed and developing countries.
Sun said developed members should show sincerity in the
negotiations on textile products and anti-dumping, and take action
to remove trade barriers and improve market-access conditions for
developing members.
Sun also said that as a new member of the trade body, China is
willing to listen to all kinds of constructive opinions to better
integrate with the world trade system.
Echoing the ambassador, China's foreign trade minister Shi
Guangsheng said yesterday that China will actively participate in
the new round of multilateral trade talks, which he said should
better heed the needs of developing countries.
Next year's WTO ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico, is the key
to whether a new round of multilateral talks can start on time and
yield acceptable fruits to each side, said Shi, minister of foreign
trade and economic co-operation.
Shi made the remarks at the inaugural ceremony for the WTO
advanced-training programme in the Asia-Pacific and the launch of
the China WTO Tribune yesterday.
The training center at Peking University marks the first time that
China has sponsored regional activities between WTO members, and
the first time that the WTO has provided technical aid for
developing members, Shi said.
"The more deeply we get involved in the multilateral trade system,
the more important we feel it is to have more qualified
professionals in this field," Shi said.
China needs to live up to its position as a full member of the WTO,
and play an active and constructive role in the organization, Shi
said. "To meet this end, we need to conduct thorough research to
acquire a deep understanding of WTO rules and operation
mechanisms."
The launching of the China WTO Tribune is a step China has taken to
adapt to the new situation.
As
a publication of the China WTO Notification and Enquiry Centre with
the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, the
magazine will provide authoritative information about WTO-related
activities in China to government bodies both at home and abroad,
Shi said.
The journal provides information on the progress of WTO
multilateral negotiations, China's participation in WTO activities,
development of different industries and enterprises after China's
WTO accession, cases of WTO dispute resolution, and examples of
utilizing WTO rules to safeguard one's own interests.
(China Daily December 12, 2002)