Tackling Protectionism: Expert: China to contribute further to world economy
Updated 20:29, 16-Jul-2018
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04:18
Meanwhile, the chief executive of the International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development shared his thoughts on China's opening up and how the WTO should react to the rise in protectionism and unilateralism.
RICARDO MELENDEZ-ORTIZ, CHIEF EXECUTIVE INT'L CENTER FOR TRADE & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT "We have been discussing in Beijing for many years since the crisis in 2008 and 2009, the need for fast reforms in a certain area. For instance with respect to investment, the opening up of new sectors, the reforms have been put in the five year plans, some of them have been delayed because of the economic environment worldwide hasn't been favorable. But I think now people become patient and would like to see a fast pace of reform. Similarly in the section of automobile, aircraft and ships, Chinese has now made a pledge this reform will continue to open up these sectors, we expect that to be a case. All the service sectors as well, China has been underperformance in this sector, its size is much smaller than other economies. The international trading services both import and export services are underperformance. It also needs reforms. But the expectations from all of us is China in the next 5 years, as said this morning by Vice Minister Wang in WTO, should contribute further to the world economy in a very import way."
XI JIA CGTN REPORTER "To some extent, WTO is now facing protectionism and unilateralism on the rise, what kind of role and mechanism do you think WTO should act in response?"
RICARDO MELENDEZ-ORTIZ, CHIEF EXECUTIVE INT'L CENTER FOR TRADE & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT "I think it's time now to sit down and to try to figure out what way we could organize a market defense. The question of remedies, the use of remedies like anti-dumping, the use of safeguards. And update the route book of the WTO, make sure there is good economic result behind those agreements. We can use the rules in ways that they speak they are relevant to business models in the 21st century economy. So my first message is there should be more engagement in the role of WTO, should be to promote the engagement. Rather than the confrontation, try to minimize or avoid confrontation by actively bringing the parties to the table to discuss these issues. That is what I think should be the role. That's one thing. The second thing is that I think that countries need to find out how to continue to deepen their integration particularly in new areas of the global economy."