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Item
2.1
I
would like to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to the outgoing
ambassadors for their contribution to the WTO. I wish them every success in
their new endeavors.
Also,
I would like to extend my warm welcome to the newly arrived ambassadors. I look
forward to working with them in the future.
Let
me start by extending my thanks to the UAE, all the chairs and facilitators,
the DG, and the Secretariat for their contributions for the MC13 and congratulating
all of us on the positive and pragmatic outcomes at MC13. That week in Abu
Dhabi went like a roller coaster. But we managed to achieve multiple
development outcomes, and 124 members finalized the Investment Facilitation for
Development Agreement.
That
being said, it is regrettable that we were not able to deliver some important
outcomes, including the Fish II negotiations, agriculture, incorporation of IFD
agreement as well as some forward-looking paragraphs in the Abu Dhabi
Ministerial Declaration.
Work
should continue in these areas in Geneva. China is committed to completing the
Fish II negotiations based on the encouraging progress made in the very last
day in Abu Dhabi. On agriculture, the good ideas from the Feb 29 Chair’s text
should be made as the basis for the guidance to the next step substance discussions
in COASS. On the DS reform, willingness, urgency and efforts are needed in
order to “achieve the objective by 2024”.
In
addition, we should also have some serious and sober reflections on WTO reform,
“to improve all its functions”, as Ministers committed in the MC12.
On
the negotiating functions, the Abu Dhabi Ministerial Declaration, Ministers reaffirmed,
I quote “resolve to preserve and strengthen the ability of the multilateral
trading system……to ensure the WTO’s proper functioning”. End of the quote.
The irresponsible use, or even the abuse, of consensus principle, as well as
the “l(fā)ose-lose” negotiation approach, will gradually undermine the negotiating
function of this institution and its ability to deliver concrete outcomes. The
developing members and small economies would stand to lose the most. While we
must uphold the principle of consensus, we need to explore how to make the
decision-making mechanism more responsible and flexible.
On
the organization of the MC, further reflections should be made on how to make
it more “efficient”. If “drama” is needed, at least we should deliver. Certain
understandings need to be clarified, as to the legitimate procedural right for
members to bring issues for consideration at the MC pursuant to the WTO
Agreement. Such rights should be respected and guaranteed. It is worth
recalling that, Article 4.1 of the WTO Agreement provides that the Ministerial Conference
has the authority to take decisions on all matters under the Multilateral Trade
Agreements, if so requested by a Member. It is deeply regrettable that a
request made by over 3 quarters of the WTO members to seek a convergence
building session for a decision under Article 10.9 of the WTO Agreement was
directly denied at MC13.
In
this regard, we agree with the suggestions by Singapore that a retreat could be
held for further reflections. This year is the 30th anniversary of the WTO. It
is hoped that the members could crystallize on the key ideas for the WTO
reform, through candid dialogue and constructive engagement. This could start
with a retreat. The topic should be very focused and specific.
Last
but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the DG
and the WTO Secretariat once again. I think we still have a lot of work to do. I
hope we can deliver more meaningful outcomes through regular channels.
Item 3
Thank you Chair.
China thanks Ambassador
FUNG’s report and commends his leadership. The Ministerial Decision on small
economies provides guidance for post MC13 work of the Dedicated Session on
Small Economies, in areas such as e-commerce and digital ecosystem, supply
chain, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. These topics are very
relevant for development and for responses to current global challenges, in
particular for the Small Economies.
China will continue to
constructively participate in discussions in the GC and the Dedicated Session
of the CTD. We call on all members to deepen pertinent analysis, hold thematic
sessions and implement the MC13 mandate to produce tangible results.
Thank you Chair.
Item
4
MC13 harvested some provisions of LDC graduation proposal annex 2. It is
a remarkable achievement and an important first step in the right direction.
With respect to the remaining requests of Annex 2, all members concerned
should continue to show constructive spirit, and utmost flexibility in post
MC13 discussions, with a view to achieving more tangible outcomes. China is
always ready.
Thank you Chair.
Item 5
China thanks the
co-sponsors for the joint communication. China supports further efforts and
discussions at the TRIPS Council to advance issues highlighted in the joint
communication and report to MC14 on the progress made. In particular, I
consider it important to complete the long overdue first review under Article
71 of the TRIPS Agreement, and to intensify engagement to ensure the mutual
supportiveness between the TRIPS agreement, the CBD and the traditional knowledge
and folklore.
Thank you Chair.
Item
6
China
appreciates the proposal by Brazil in promoting agricultural negotiations and
continuing to advance the unfinished work at Abu Dhabi.
The
negotiation text circulated in the evening of 29th February by the Facilitator
on Agriculture, Minister H.E. Ms. Rebecca Miano is simplified and pragmatic,
and reflects the joint efforts of the facilitator, the COASS chair, the
members, and the Secretariat team. China supports to have this text as guidance
for the next step agriculture negotiations.
Taking
into account the current situation and the multiple challenges facing members,
especially the developing members, we call on members to kick off frank and
effective dialogues, including dialogue on sustainable agriculture, to explore
the way forward in a creative, practical and constructive way, rather than to
repeat previous failures.
I
would like to take this opportunity to highly appreciate and thank Ambassador
Acarsoy, the COASS chair. I want to thank him for his tremendous efforts to
drive negotiations and bridge divergence with even-handedness and perseverance,
with creativity and realism. For the first time in years, a text of convergence
among the majority of members is achieved. We call on members to collectively
advance agricultural negotiations based on these efforts.
Thank
you Chair.
Item 7
Thank
you Chair.
China
thanks India for putting this topic on this agenda. The Abu Dhabi Ministerial
Declaration reiterates “the centrality of the development dimension in the work
of the WTO” and recognizes that “the full integration of developing Members,
including LDCs, in the multilateral trading system is important for their
economic development.”
Through
trade, the WTO has delivered on the development dimension. From 1990 to 2022,
developing members increased their share of global exports from 16 percent to
47 percent. In the same period, the global poverty rate fell from 36 percent to
8.4 percent. Trade has integrated more and more people into the global value
chain and contributed to lifting over 1 billion people out of poverty.
In
spite of the progress, development deficit remains, as can be seen from the
widening gap of the average per capital GDP between the developing and
developed members. And, developing members are particularly vulnerable during
times of pandemic, climate change or other external shocks. Their urgent
concerns, such as on food security, are yet to be addressed.
Post
MC13, on the development front, while continuing work on issues such as SDT
implementation, LDC graduations, and aid for trade initiatives, we should also
give serious thinking to our approaches to development issues in general. For
WTO negotiations on development, both developing and developed members need to
step up further, and towards each other, in a pragmatic, flexible and
incremental way, to rebuild trust, enhance cooperation and deliver more.
In
this regard, I appreciate the spirit advocated by India in its circulated
document, namely “one earth, one family and one future”. I think in the
organization, if we have more family like cooperations and discussions, instead
of simple “take it or leave it” continuously insisting on particular positions
without fair considerations to others, or even game playing. I think we can do
more, and we can do better, for the people, not just on the development issues,
but also on various issues of members’ concern.
Thank
you Chair.
Item 8
Thank
you Chair.
I
would like to start by congratulating the finalization of IFDA, the Investment
Facilitation for Development Agreement, by over three quarters of the WTO
membership at MC13. I would also like to express my heartfelt appreciation to
the Co-coordinators for their hard work and leadership in the preparation for
the finalization of the IFD Agreement. I also warmly welcome Burkina Faso to
join this initiative and encourage more members to join.
For
an effective exchange of views, it is suggested that a dedicated process be
established under the auspices of the GC, with the aim to facilitating the
consensus to incorporate the IFD Agreement into WTO framework at an early date.
We
expect and believe, through the spirits of family members, the IFD Agreement,
as a major outcome of the development dimension, will surely find its rightful
home in the WTO.
Thank
you Chair.
Item 9
Thank
you Chair.
At
this moment, I find it very difficult for me to frame how to express our
support to this issue. Actually, before MC13, in a meeting chaired by the DG,
China had already expressed our support to discuss this issue. Then, at MC13,
China also supported this issue. But the proposal was withdrawn twice. So, I am
a little concerned about the process. Taking account of this very important
issue to a lot of developing members, I do hope members could more seriously
put this topic on the agenda of the GC.
Thank
you Chair.