Statement
by Minister Shi Guangsheng
at the Fourth Ministerial
Conference of the WTO
10 November 2001, Doha
Mr. Chairman,
After 15 years of difficult negotiations, we finally came to
this historical moment. Hereby, on behalf of the Chinese government,
I would like to appreciate the WTO Ministerial Conference for its
adoption of the Decision on China's Accession to the WTO. And I
would like to take this opportunity to thank all WTO Members and
Mr. Girard, Chairman of the Working Party on China, for his support
for China's accession over the years. My gratitude also goes to
the Director-Generals of GATT and the WTO, Mr. Dunkel, Mr. Sutherland,
Mr. Ruggiero and Mr. Moore, who have given their support and assistance
in the past 15 years.
The WTO accession and full participation in the multilateral
trading system are strategic decisions made by the Chinese leaders
under accelerated economic globalization. China has made longstanding
and unremitting efforts for resuming its GATT Contracting Party
status and for acceding to the WTO, which fully demonstrates the
resolve and confidence of China to deepen its reform and to open
further to the outside world. The WTO accession is not only in the
interests of China, but also in the interests of all WTO Members
and conducive to the development of the multilateral trading system.
It will inevitably exert widespread and far-reaching impact on China's
economy and on the world economy in the new century. After its accession,
China will, on the basis of the balance between rights and obligations,
abide by the WTO rules and honor its commitments while enjoying
its rights. China will, as always, value and strengthen equal and
mutually beneficial economic and trade relations with countries
and regions in the world, and play an active and constructive role
in the multilateral trading system and make its positive contribution
to the progress of world economy and trade together with other WTO
Members.
Mr. Chairman,
China first participated in the Uruguay Round Negotiations in
September 1986 and witnessed the historical transformation of the
multilateral trading system from the GATT to the WTO. Meanwhile,
China's negotiations for the accession to the multilateral trading
system over the past 15 years have been an integral part of the
process of its reform and opening up from the beginning to the end.
We have drawn the following three basic conclusions from our own
experiences:
First, only by participating in the multilateral trading system
with a positive stance, can various countries in the world better
share the benefits of economic globalization;
Second, during the course of economic globalization, only by
establishing an economic and trade regime in line with international
practices and the specific situation of the country, can they avoid
their disadvantages and fully play out advantages, and therefore
effectively safeguard their respective economic security while opening
to the outside world; and
Third, only by constantly adapting itself to the development
and changes of world economy and by fully reflecting the interests
and requirements of all parties including developing countries,
can the multilateral trading system maintain its vigor and vitality.
Mr. Chairman,
The road from Seattle to Doha is by no means an easy path, which
has generated profound thoughts and enlightenment. The Seattle Conference
two years ago failed to launch the new round of multilateral trade
negotiations. We believe that in face of the rapid development of
economic globalization of today, we should follow the development
of the situation and to jointly formulate relevant rules through
consultations on an equal footing among Members and to carry out
effective coordination and management over the ever widened and
complicated international economic and trade activities.
Therefore, we need to face up to the obvious defects of the existing
multilateral trading system so as to reflect the interests and demands
of developing countries in a more adequate fashion. We need to invite
all Members to formulate the international trade rules of the new
century through equal participation and consultation, so as to enable
more developing countries
to share the opportunities and interests brought about by the economic
globalization and to avoid the further widening of the gap between
rich and poor and protect some countries against being marginalized.
Mr. Chairman,
China supports the launch of a new round of multilateral trade
negotiations on the basis of full consideration of the interests
and reasonable requirements of developing countries. China believes
that a new round should be conducive, first, to the establishment
of a fair, just and reasonable international economic new order;
second, to the development of world economy as well as trade and
investment facilitation; and third, to the achievement of a balance
of interests between developed countries and developing countries.
We believe that to achieve the above goals, we need to ensure
that in the new round,
Full consideration be given to the development level of relevant
industries of developing countries and special treatment be rendered
to the extent and speed of their opening;
Pragmatic and effective measures be adopted to guarantee the
implementation of the Uruguay Round agreements;
All-round and effective participation of developing members be
guaranteed and both the identification of topics and the negotiations
be based on consultation on an equal footing; and
A balanced and package approach be taken to ensure that the results
of the negotiations reflect an overall balance of the interests
of various parties.
Mr. Chairman,
The new century is full of opportunities and challenges. Let
us work together to meet these challenges, and to consolidate and
strengthen the multilateral trading system and to make continued
contributions to the stability and development of world economy
and trade. In conclusion, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese
government, to express our appreciation to the Qatari government
for its hard work for the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the WTO.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Minister Shi Guangsheng
Head of the Chinese Delegation
(Please refer to Chinese Site)
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