The Ministry of Commerce Sunday applauded the appointment of Yi Xiaozhun, China's permanent representative to the World Trade Organization, as deputy director-general of the body.

Yi will be the first Chinese to be named to the post.

This not only affirmed Yi's individual capabilities, but also the active and constructive role China and developing countries play in the WTO, said Yao Jian, a ministry spokesman.

China will continue to boost cooperation with the WTO, support the WTO director-general's work, safeguard multi-lateral trade mechanisms and participate in global governance, Yao said.

Yi has worked on international trade issues since the 1980s. He was China's vice minister of commerce before taking office in Geneva as the country's permanent representative to the WTO in 2011.

Yao also hailed the incoming WTO director-general's nominations of three other deputy directors-general.