Statement by H.E. Minister SHI Guangsheng, Head of the Chinese Delegation,
at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the WTO

Doha, November 10th, 2001.（2001年11月10日，多哈）

Mr, Chairman,

After 15 years of difficult negotiations, we finally came to this historical moment. Hereby, on behalf of the Chinese government, I would like to appreciate the WTO Ministerial Conference for its adoption of the Decision on China's Accession to the WTO. And I would like to take this opportunity to thank all WTO Members and Mr. Girard, Chairman of the Working Party on China, for your support for China's accession over the years. My gratitude also goes to Mr. Mike Moore, Director-General of the WTO, to the former Director-Generals of GATT and the WTO, Mr. Dunkel, Mr. Sutherland and Mr. Ruggiero who have given their support and assistance in the past 15 years.

The WTO accession and its full participation in the multilateral trading system are strategic decisions made by the Chinese leaders under accelerated economic globalization. China has made longstanding and unremitting efforts for resuming its GATT Contracting Party status and for acceding to the WTO, which fully demonstrates the resolve and confidence of China to deepen its reform and to open further to the outside world. The WTO accession is not only in the interests of China, but also in the interests of all WTO Members and conducive to the development of the multilateral trading system. It will inevitably exert widespread and far-reaching impact on China's economy and on the world economy in the new century. After its accession, China will, on the basis of the balance between rights and obligations, abide by the WTO rules and honor its commitments while enjoying its rights. China will, as always, value and strengthen equal and mutually beneficial economic and trade relations with countries and regions in the world, and play an active and constructive role in the multilateral trading system and make its positive contribution to the progress of world economy and trade together with other WTO Members.

Mr. Chairman,

China first participated in the Uruguay Round Negotiations in September 1986 and witnessed the historical transformation of the multilateral trading system from GATT to the WTO. Meanwhile, China's negotiations for the accession to the multilateral trading system over the past 15 years have been an integral part of the process of its reform and opening up from the beginning to the end. We have drawn the following three basic conclusions from our own experiences:

First, only by participating in the multilateral trading system with a positive stance, can various countries in the world better share the benefits of economic globalization;

Second, during the course of economic globalization, only by establishing an economic and trade regime in line with international practices and the specific situation of the country, can they avoid their disadvantages and fully play out advantages, and therefore electively safeguard their respective economic security while opening to the outside world; and

Third, only by constantly adapting itself to the development and changes of world economy and by fully reflecting the interests and requirements of all parties including developing countries, can the multilateral trading system maintain its vigor and vitality.

Mr. Chairman,

The road from Seattle to Doha is by no means an easy path, which has generated profound thoughts and enlightenment. The Seattle Conference two years ago failed to launch the new round of multilateral trade negotiations. We believe that in face of the rapid development of economic globalization of today, we should follow the development of the situation and to jointly formulate relevant rules through consultations on an equal footing among Members and to carry out effective coordination and management over the ever widened and complicated international economic and trade activities.

Therefore, we need to face up to the obvious defects of the existing multilateral trading system so as to reflect the interests and demands of developing countries in a more adequate fashion. We need to invite all Members to formulate the international trade rules of the new century through equal participation and consultation, so as to enable more developing countries to share the opportunities and interests brought about by the economic globalization and to avoid the further widening of the gap between rich and poor and protect some countries against being marginalized.

Mr. Chairman,

China supports the launch of a new round of multilateral trade negotiations on the basis of full consideration of the interests and reasonable requirements of developing countries. China believes that a new round should be conducive, first, to the establishment of a fair, just and reasonable international economic new order; second, to the development of world economy as well as trade and investment facilitation; and third, to the achievement of a balance of interests between developed countries and developing countries.

We believe that to achieve the above goals, we need to ensure that in the new round,

Full consideration be given to the development level of relevant industries of developing countries and special treatment be rendered to the extent and speed of their opening;

Pragmatic and effective measures be adopted to guarantee the implementation of the Uruguay Round agreements;

All-round and effective participation of developing members be guaranteed and both the identification of topics and the negotiations be based on consultation on an equal footing; and

A balanced and package approach be taken to ensure that the results of the negotiations reflect an overall balance of the interests of various parties.

Mr. Chairman,

The new century is full of opportunities and challenges. Let us work together to meet these challenges, and to consolidate and strengthen the multilateral trading system and to make continued contributions to the stability and development of world economy and trade.

In conclusion, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese government, to express our appreciation to the Qatari government for its hard work for the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the WTO.

Thank you Mr. Chairman.

主席先生：

在经历了长达15年的艰苦谈判之后，我们终于迎来了这一历史性时刻。在此，我代表中国政府对WTO部长级会议作出关于中国加入WTO的决定表示感谢。借此机会，请允许我对长期以来支持中国加入WTO的所有成员和中国工作组主席吉拉德先生表示感谢。我还要对15年来给予我们支持和帮助的历任总干事—邓克尔先生、萨瑟兰先生、鲁杰罗先生、穆尔先生表示感谢。

加入WTO和全面参与多边贸易体制，是中国领导人在经济全球化进程加快的形势下作出的战略决策。中国为复关和加入
WTO作出了长期不懈的努力，这充分表明了中国深化改革和扩大开放的决心和信心。加入WTO不仅有利于中国，而且有利于所有WTO成员、有助于多边贸易体制的发展。它必将对新世纪的中国经济和世界经济产生广泛和深远的影响。加入WTO以后，中国将在权利与义务平衡的基础上，在享受权利的同时，遵守WTO规则，履行自己的承诺。中国将一如既往地重视和加强同世界各国、各地区发展平等、互利的经贸关系；在多边贸易体制中发挥积极和建设性的作用，与其他WTO成员一道，为世界经济贸易的发展作出积极贡献。

主席先生，

中国自1986年9月起就参加了乌拉圭回合谈判，参与了多边贸易体制由关贸总协定到世界贸易组织的历史转折。同时，中国加入多边贸易体制谈判的15年历史始终伴随着中国实行改革开放的进程。我们从自身的经验中得出了三点基本结论：

第一，世界各国只有以积极的姿态参与多边贸易体制，才能更好地分享经济全球化的好处；

第二，在经济全球化的进程中，只有建立起与国际通行规则相适应同时又符合本国实际情况的经济贸易管理体制，才能趋利避害，并在对外开放的同时有效地维护本国的经济安全；

第三，多边贸易体制只有不断适应世界经济的发展和变化，
并充分反映包括广大发展中国家在内的各方利益和要求，才能保持生机和活力。

主席先生，

从西雅图到多哈的道路并不平坦，给我们的思考和启示是十分深刻的。两年前的西雅图会议没有能够启动新一轮多边贸易谈判。我们认为，在经济全球化迅猛发展的今天，我们应该顺应形势的发展，通过各成员的平等协商，共同制订有关规则，对日益广泛和复杂的国际经济贸易活动进行有效的协调和管理。

因此，我们需要正视现行多边贸易体制中存在的明显缺陷，使多边贸易体制更加充分地反映发展中国家的利益和要求，
并让所有成员平等参与、相互协商，制订新世纪的国际贸易规则，让更多的发展中国家分享经济全球化带来的机会和利益，避免贫富差距继续扩大，避免一部分国家被边际化。

主席先生，

中国支持在充分考虑发展中国家的利益和合理要求的基础上，发动新一轮多边贸易谈判。中国主张，新一轮谈判的目标应当是：第一，有利于建立公平、公正和合理的国际经济新秩序；第二，有利于世界经济的发展和贸易投资便利化；第三，有利于发达国家和发展中国家利益的平衡。

为实现上述目标，我们认为，在新一轮谈判中：

必须充分考虑发展中国家相关产业的发展水平，在开放的程度和速度上给予特殊处理。

必须采取切实、有效的措施保证乌拉圭回合协议的实施。

必须保证发展中成员的全面和有效参与，议题的确定和谈判必须在平等协商的基础上进行。

必须以平衡和一揽子的方式进行谈判，保障谈判结果体现各方利益的总体平衡。

主席先生，

新的世纪充满着机遇和挑战，让我们共同合作，迎接挑战，使多边贸易体制得到巩固和加强，为世界经济贸易的稳定和发展不断作出贡献。

最后，请允许我代表中国政府对卡塔尔政府为筹备WTO第四届部长级会议所做的大量工作表示感谢。

谢谢主席先生。