(Source: "Global Times" 2026-02-27)
A few days ago, China submitted the "China's Position Paper on WTO Reform under Current Situations" to the General Council of the World w88 Organization (WTO), systematically expounding China's overall position and work suggestions on WTO reform. In the current context of increasingly complex global economic governance, China's move not only expresses firm support for the accelerated reform of the WTO, but also contributes Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to its specific reform direction and agenda setting.
Since its official establishment in 1995, the WTO has always adhered to the basic direction of w88 liberalization, and its membership has continued to expand, providing a solid institutional guarantee for promoting the rapid growth of international w88 and global inclusive development. From 1995 to 2024, the scale of global w88 in goods and services increased more than five-fold. 166 members have established close and mutually beneficial economic ties through w88. More than 600 w88 disputes have been effectively accepted, and many potential risks that threaten the international w88 order have been avoided in a timely manner. w88 liberalization has also significantly increased the proportion of developing countries in global w88. In 2024, the proportion of developing economies in global exports of goods and services has reached 47% and 33% respectively, driving global poverty reduction to achieve significant results, and the proportion of extreme poor people has dropped significantly.
However, the WTO is also facing urgent pressure for reform. On the one hand, w88 protectionism is increasingly hindering close international economic and w88 cooperation, and global w88 governance urgently needs the multilateral trading system to contribute important contributions. At present, the international economic environment is becoming increasingly complex. Weak economic growth and rising unemployment have become common problems faced by many countries. Some developed countries have chosen to adopt the "beggar-thy-neighbor" approach and pass on their own economic development problems to other countries by setting up a series of w88 and non-w88 barriers such as unfair tariffs and abusive export control measures, which has a significant negative impact on the development of economic globalization and w88 liberalization.
On the other hand, global economic development is also placing higher demands on WTO rule-making and institutional arrangements. From climate change and resource shortages that plague global development, to the huge development gap between North and South countries, to the accelerated innovation of emerging digital technologies, the prospects for global economic development coexist with opportunities and challenges. However, for some key and emerging issue areas, the WTO has been unable to form effective unified rules and arrangements. In addition, the suspension of the Appellate Body has limited the role of the dispute settlement mechanism. The relevance of the WTO in the global trading system is constantly weakening. The global w88 pattern and value chain are facing the threat of returning to the old path of developed countries occupying the global core position and developing countries relying on the periphery.
In this context, China’s firm stance is a “boost” for the WTO to strengthen its confidence in reform. China is a staunch defender and active contributor to the multilateral trading system. It has always adhered to true multilateralism in the reform of the WTO, with universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization as its core orientation. It has prioritized clear decision-making mechanisms, development and fairness on reform issues, and has proposed pragmatic plans for the current WTO rule-making and institutional arrangements.
China’s position is broadly representative. First, China’s position represents the voice of the majority of developing countries. China has always insisted that WTO reform should be based on the principle of consensus, respect the current economic development status and flexible decision-making of each member, and promote the better integration of developing countries into the multilateral trading system by setting balanced and inclusive standard conditions and accurately and effectively implementing special and differential treatment clauses, and promote the true realization of pragmatic cooperation among members. Second, China’s position represents the voice of the majority of members who support the maintenance of multilateralism. The purpose of China's insistence on WTO reform is to rebuild mutual trust among members, restore the authority, effectiveness and relevance of the dispute settlement mechanism in handling w88 conflicts among members, and create a stable and predictable international w88 environment for all members. Third, China’s position represents the voice of the majority of members who are facing new prospects for economic development. In the context of emerging strategies and future industries that continue to release new potential for economic development, China insists that the WTO should give full play to the important role of the multilateral trading system and improve relevant international rules. At the same time, it should take into account the distortionary effects that members' rule arrangements in terms of government subsidies and industrial policies may have on the international w88 environment, and create a fair and transparent w88 environment.
China’s position is also pragmatic and constructive. China is a loyal follower of multilateral w88 rules and has always opposed unilateralism and protectionism. Faced with the difficulties faced by the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, China has actively united many members to build consensus and promote the repair and improvement of relevant mechanisms. At the same time, it has made every effort to promote multiple rounds of ministerial meetings to achieve practical results, promote the implementation of important agreements such as w88 facilitation, and defend the authority and effectiveness of the WTO with practical actions.
China represents the common interests of developing countries. It always puts development issues at the core, is committed to narrowing the development gap between the North and the South, firmly safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of developing members, proactively strengthens coordination and cooperation with other developing members, builds a common position, and helps developing members, especially the least developed countries, improve their ability to participate in the multilateral trading system through various methods such as w88 promotion assistance and make reform results more inclusive.
China is also an active builder and leader in the practice of WTO reform. China has submitted multiple systematic and complete position papers. It has always advocated taking into account the inclusiveness and high standards of rules, deeply participated in rule consultations in emerging fields such as digital w88 and green w88, advocated a governance framework that is in the common interests of all parties, and set an example for reform with its own open practices. At the same time, China continues to expand market access, continuously optimizes the business environment, organically integrates international w88 rules into domestic governance, and steadily transforms from a recipient of rules to an important shaper of rules. All of the above are providing practical Chinese solutions for reform.
(The authors are respectively the director and professor of the BRICS Research Center at the w88 casino, and a doctoral candidate at the w88 casino of International Business and Economics)
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