Item 7&8

Thank you Chair.

China would like to thank the ACP and Singapore for their reflections on the practice of decision-making by consensus. The ACP’s proposal addresses the question of “why”: why consensus-based decision-making should be preserved. Singapore’s proposal touches upon the question of “how”: how to preserve the consensus-based decision-making. As such, both reflections are complementary rather than contradictory.

Reflections on the practice of “decision-making by consensus” is very timely, in light of the results of MC13. The inability for decision-making on even the low-hanging fruits harms every member, in particular small members, and undermines the institution itself.

The Marrakesh Agreement stipulates voting procedures as an alternative. Vote has never happened before. It is not because there is no such option. It is because WTO members value the consensus practice and want to preserve it, in the interest of all members and of the institution. But it should not be taken for granted. We should also recognize, when WTO no longer can deliver, due to abuse of consensus, another situation could also happen, i.e. “vote with the feet”.

China is a member that values the consensus practice the most. That is why we support the idea of responsible consensus, in order to preserve the consensus-based practice, and in the end, to preserve the multilateral trading system, and to benefit all members, especially small ones.

To preserve consensus-based practices, we need three things:

First, Good faith. The practice of the consensus should be guided by good-faith. That means members should make efforts to find common ground, while acknowledging differences;

Second, Responsibility. All members bear the responsibility to build consensus, and that responsibility requires making compromises when needed, and tolerance;

Third, Trust. Trust can only be built through collective efforts and concrete actions, to enable the WTO, instead of disabling it; to make deliverables, instead of blocking them.

In conclusion, China appreciates the ACP and Singapore proposals and hopes all members will make the consensus-based practice work to deliver.

Item 10&11

Thank you Chair for giving me the floor.

This communication is a reflection on MC13 development outcomes, especially on the approaches to development issues. At MC13, the development agenda was one of the few negotiated areas where Members demonstrated a spirit of mutual accommodation, a willingness to take small steps, and the adoption of a win-win strategy. This has led to several concrete results. It also inspired China to think about what kind of approaches that could be helpful to deliver more.

Such reflections on the approaches are captured by 5 key phrases: new perspectives, not only positions, incremental steps, stronger capacity building, and special and differential treatment. We hope that they could inform the future work on all aspects of development, and be conducive to revitalizing the deliberative functions, bringing fresh air to the negotiating functions, as well as finding new ways for capacity building.

Such reflections on approaches are necessary, when we move forward with Post-MC13 work. They are also complementary, and applicable, to other proposals on general and specific development issues, including policy space for development, development aspects of e-commerce work programme, the incorporation of the IFD Agreement, food security, and of course, how to take stock of the development agenda in the last 30 years and how to take such agenda forward.

We look forward to discussing further with all members on how to implement these reflections in practice, for example, to identify appropriate topics of thematic sessions to revitalize deliberations; to organize hybrid forms of discussions, with view to going beyond and taking care of long-standing positions and make progress on negotiations; and to increase the capacity of developing members by tapping into outside expertise and pooling available resources. Such reform could start from bottom-up. And the GC could play it oversight role in supervising such reforms on the approaches to development, as appropriate and in due course.

I will stop here, thank you Chair.

(Response)

China appreciates all comments and interventions. These interventions clearly indicate that a lot more needs to be done on development dimensions. Yesterday, Brazilian colleague quoted a Chinese saying “tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat”. I wish to bring forth the other half of it, which says “strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory”. For the grand strategy of development, a tactic that we want to offer is to start a journey of a thousand miles with a single step. With this initial discussion, we look forward to working with all members, to take pragmatic steps in reforming the approaches to post-MC13 development agenda and deliver more concrete outcomes in the future.

Item 12

Thank you Chair.

I think now it is the right time to discuss this issue. In the previous discussions, we discussed the decision-making by consensus, and the development issue. Now the issue is, the participants seek the consensus on the important development issue of the IFDA incorporation into the WTO legal system.

I wish to echo the statements made by the IFD co-coordinator Ambassador Boza. We welcome the continued discussion at GC, with the aim to building convergence and ultimately reaching consensus for the IFDA incorporation at GC at an early date, and that is the July GC.

Chair, the value and benefits of an agreement hinge entirely on its implementation. As an instrument to attract investment flows and foster sustainable economic development, the IFDA has gained broad support for early incorporation and implementation at the March GC. With this in mind, we call upon the active engagement of the concerned members through a dedicated process under the auspices of the GC, and if needed, the leadership of the GC Chair. Only through constructive dialogues can concerns be addressed and consensus be achieved.

Finally, as the development issues are extensively deliberated and explored at this GC, it is noteworthy that the IFDA, characterized by its unique development-oriented approach, could greatly contribute to our sustainable development goals by attracting foreign investment. It emerges as one of the latest and foremost development achievements under the WTO development agenda. The WTO should demonstrate itself as a relevant, deliverable, and united organization again, by adopting an agreement that promotes development and serves interests of all members.

Thank you, Chair.