Highlights from white paper on China and WTO press conference

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‍China’s State Council Information Office held a press conference on Thursday afternoon about a white paper titled China and World Trade Organization (WTO).

The white paper was released by the Information Office of the State Council (SCIO) on Thursday afternoon.

Wang Shouwen, Vice Minister of Commerce, and Xi Yanchun, the spokesperson of State Council Information Office, attended the press conference.

Xi Yanchun, the spokesperson of State Council Information Office, attends a press conference about white paper on China and WTO on June 28, 2018. /China.com Photo

Since joining the WTO 17 years ago, China has seen deep-going market economy system reform, ever-improving market system, and optimizing business environment, Wang told reporters.

China has worked to straighten out the relationship between the government and the market to give the latter a decisive role in resource allocation and to better tap into the role of the development needs, but also to make concrete action in pushing forward economic globalization to benefit people across the world, Wang added.

Wang Shouwen, Vice Minister of Commerce, attends a press conference about white paper on China and WTO on June 28, 2018. /China.com Photo

China has faithfully fulfilled its WTO accession commitments, said Wang, stressing that China firmly supports the multilateral trading system.

The country will continue to uphold the principle of achieving shared benefits through consultation and collaboration in advancing the Belt and Road Initiative, so as to provide others with opportunities to take a ride on the express train of China’s development, Wang said.

China hopes to promote common development around the world, realize mutually beneficial and win-win outcomes, work with all countries to build a community with a shared future that features highly-integrated interests and mutual interdependence, the vice minister added.

On fulfilling WTO promises

China has done its best to implement all the commitments stipulated in the WTO accession agreement, which has been highly valued by Pascal Lamy, former Director General of the WTO, Wang told the reporters.

China has achieved the "A+" score in fulfilling its WTO commitments, said Pascal Lamy on many occasions.

Here is more about how China has fulfilled its WTO commitments:

17 years in the WTO: China has lived up to its promises

On reform and opening-up

During the press conference, Wang stressed China’s continuous efforts in advancing opening-up, pointing out that the country will never stop its fundamental national policy of reform and opening-up.

VCG Photo

China has participated fully in the Doha Round negotiations and also made contributions to the ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), added Wang.

The country has also accepted the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) upon accession, subsequently participated in the negotiations to expand its coverage.

By May 2018, China had signed 16 free trade agreements (FTA) with 24 countries and regions, according to the official.

On IPR protection

During the press conference, Wang reiterated China’s firm stance on intellectual property rights (IPR) protection, saying China has taken significant measures to protect IPR and has made apparent achievements in that area.

VCG Photo

China has set up IPR courts in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and special judicial organs at 15 intermediate courts in Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuhan, Xi'an and other cities to handle cross-regional IPR cases, including those related to patents, according to Wang.

On the 'Made in China 2025' strategy

China welcomes foreign investors and enterprises to participate in the "Made in China 2025" strategy, which is an instructional, transparent and open guide, Wang said at the press conference.

Wang has also called on the journalists to deepen their research on it to present the complete and honest information to the audience.