2019 marks the 18-year anniversary of China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The country has continuously supported free trade in countering the trend of protectionism, while serving as the largest contributor to global growth, and the world's second biggest importer.

After 15 years of extended negation, China's application to join the WTO was finally accepted in December 2001. And becoming the 143rd member of the WTO marks a new phase for the country's opening-up.

The nation's integration into the WTO system has been evident. China officially announced in July 2010 its fulfillment of all WTO commitments. The country had fulfilled all of its commodity tax promises, and the overall tariff level was reduced to 9.8 percent, which is far below the average among the developing nations.

In the decade following China's WTO accession, imports swelled to 750 billion U.S. dollars on average annually. This created more than 14 million jobs in those countries that were China's trading partners. The total profits of foreign-invested enterprises in China exceeded 260 billion U.S. dollars, and grew by 30 percent a year.

The country has showed clear commitments to continue its integration with the global economy. Roberto Azevedo, head of the WTO said at the second China International Import Expo in November that the event demonstrates China's intention in continuing import promotion, creating opportunities for businesses and consumers domestically and around the world.

WTO dispute settlement body collapse

Growing tensions in global trade and emerging protectionism have created headwinds against the global economy. The WTO provides a platform for economic negotiations and settling trade disputes. However, the supreme court of world trade, the WTO appeals panel, collapsed on December 11 after the U.S. blocked new appointments.

For more than two years, the Trump administration has been blocking appointments to the seven-member body that rules on trade disputes that can affect billions of dollars in commerce. With only one member remaining on the panel, it fails to reach the minimum required to sign off on rulings.

The Chinese foreign ministry on Wednesday condemned the United States for obstructing the appointment of appellate judges.

Zhang Xiangchen, China's trade ambassador, said the collapse of the settlement body is a severe blow to the multilateral trading system, and said China is working to support the EU's vision of an appeal-arbitration model as an interim solution in helping countries to deal with their disputes.

WTO chief Azevedo pledged to start immediate efforts to find a "permanent solution" for the Appellate Body.