Li Chenggang, China’s International Trade Negotiator and Vice Minister of Commerce, said that China is still the world's largest developing country and that China’s status and identity as a developing country have not changed. China has always been a member of the "Global South" and will always stand together with developing countries.
According to the official website of China’s Ministry of Commerce, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce held a press briefing on Wednesday regarding the issue of special and differential treatment at the WTO. At the meeting, Li Chenggang said that Chinese Premier Li Qiang declared to the world, while attending related activities of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday (September 23, local time), that as a responsible developing major country, China will not seek new special and differential treatment in current and future WTO negotiations.
Li Chenggang stated that this is an important statement made by China, considering both domestic and international situations. It is also an important measure for China to resolutely uphold the multilateral trading system and actively implement the Global Development Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, “which will undoubtedly inject a strong boost into promoting the liberalization and facilitation of global trade and investment.”
Li Chenggang pointed out that the current rules-based multilateral trading system is facing severe challenges, with hegemonism, unilateralism, and protectionism rampant. Without naming, he also criticized the United States, saying that certain countries have repeatedly launched trade wars and tariff wars, which have seriously impacted the rules-based multilateral trading system, severely harmed the legitimate interests of WTO members, and seriously disrupted the international economic and trade order, bringing uncertainty and instability to global economic development.
Li Chenggang continued, saying that the international community’s calls for safeguarding the multilateral trading system are growing stronger, and expectations for the WTO to play a more active role are increasing day by day. Against this background, China's announcement that it will not seek new special and differential treatment in current and future WTO negotiations further underscores China’s firm stance in supporting the multilateral trading system with concrete actions and its responsibility as a major country.
Li Chenggang emphasized that China is still the world's largest developing country and that China’s status and identity as a developing country have not changed. China has always been a member of the "Global South" and will always stand together with developing countries.
He also said that China will continue to safeguard the multilateral trading system as always and will participate fully and deeply in WTO reform and the adjustment of international economic and trade rules. China will firmly stand together with the broad membership of developing countries and place development at the center of WTO reform.
According to Xinhua News Agency, on Tuesday (September 23) in New York, Li Qiang said that as a responsible developing major country, China will not seek any new special and differential treatment in current and future WTO negotiations. Li Qiang made these remarks at a high-level meeting hosted by the Chinese side during the general debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
According to the official website of China’s Ministry of Commerce, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce held a press briefing on Wednesday regarding the issue of special and differential treatment at the WTO. At the meeting, Li Chenggang said that Chinese Premier Li Qiang declared to the world, while attending related activities of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday (September 23, local time), that as a responsible developing major country, China will not seek new special and differential treatment in current and future WTO negotiations.
Li Chenggang stated that this is an important statement made by China, considering both domestic and international situations. It is also an important measure for China to resolutely uphold the multilateral trading system and actively implement the Global Development Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, “which will undoubtedly inject a strong boost into promoting the liberalization and facilitation of global trade and investment.”
Li Chenggang pointed out that the current rules-based multilateral trading system is facing severe challenges, with hegemonism, unilateralism, and protectionism rampant. Without naming, he also criticized the United States, saying that certain countries have repeatedly launched trade wars and tariff wars, which have seriously impacted the rules-based multilateral trading system, severely harmed the legitimate interests of WTO members, and seriously disrupted the international economic and trade order, bringing uncertainty and instability to global economic development.
Li Chenggang continued, saying that the international community’s calls for safeguarding the multilateral trading system are growing stronger, and expectations for the WTO to play a more active role are increasing day by day. Against this background, China's announcement that it will not seek new special and differential treatment in current and future WTO negotiations further underscores China’s firm stance in supporting the multilateral trading system with concrete actions and its responsibility as a major country.
Li Chenggang emphasized that China is still the world's largest developing country and that China’s status and identity as a developing country have not changed. China has always been a member of the "Global South" and will always stand together with developing countries.
He also said that China will continue to safeguard the multilateral trading system as always and will participate fully and deeply in WTO reform and the adjustment of international economic and trade rules. China will firmly stand together with the broad membership of developing countries and place development at the center of WTO reform.
According to Xinhua News Agency, on Tuesday (September 23) in New York, Li Qiang said that as a responsible developing major country, China will not seek any new special and differential treatment in current and future WTO negotiations. Li Qiang made these remarks at a high-level meeting hosted by the Chinese side during the general debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
According to Bloomberg, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala posted on the X platform: “This is the result of years of effort, and I want to commend China’s leadership on this issue!”
The status of developing countries is self-declared by WTO members and brings various benefits, including longer implementation periods for agreements.
The United States has consistently criticized China for continuing to claim developing country status despite being the world’s second-largest economy. Former US President Donald Trump said during his first term in 2019, “The United States has never accepted China’s claim of being a developing country; virtually every current economic indicator contradicts China’s claim.”
The United States has consistently criticized China for continuing to claim developing country status despite being the world’s second-largest economy. Former US President Donald Trump said during his first term in 2019, “The United States has never accepted China’s claim of being a developing country; virtually every current economic indicator contradicts China’s claim.”