来源：常驻世贸组织代表团 类型：原创 分类：新闻
2024-07-24 00:51
Statement by Ambassador LI Chenggang in the July GC Meeting
(22-23.07.2024)
Item 5
Thank you Chair. China warmly congratulates Timor-Leste and Comoros on becoming members of the WTO. China looks forward to working with Timor-Leste and Comoros in the WTO on issues of our common interests in the future.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the outgoing ambassadors for their contribution to the WTO. I wish them every success. Especially, my good friend H.E. Ambassador Dandy, I would like to highlight your contributions as the facilitator of G33, and give my personal thanks for your role as the discussant of China’s Ninth TPR last week.
And also H.E. Ambassador Waldman, I want to thank you especially for the 3-year chair of CBFA. It’s really a very important role and difficult job.
Back to the agriculture, China appreciates the tremendous efforts Brazil has made in the past 2 months, trying to facilitate a common guideline for the agricultural negotiation. It is not an easy task. Nonetheless, the efforts by Brazil, and the kind of responsibility and leadership it has demonstrated, are to be applauded.
China is ready to join consensus. However, I have to say, what we have undergone together during the past 6 months, unfortunately reflects that members lack trust in agricultural negotiations. So all of us should seriously think about how we should go forward on this important issue.
Taking into account the increasing challenges faced by members, especially developing members, we call on members to kick off frank and effective dialogues after the summer break, to mull on the way forward in a creative, practical and constructive way with priorities given to the needs of developing members and LDCs, instead of repeating previous positions which only could lead to failures again.
Item 6
China deeply regrets that consensus cannot be reached today on the incorporation of the IFDA into the WTO legal framework. The IFDA is supported by over 90 developing members and LDCs. As such, it represents an important development agenda for the global south in the WTO.
The IFDA aims to streamline procedures, enhance transparency, and promote cooperation. It is exactly the kind of policy tool that could help attract necessary investments and lead to job creation, economic diversification, structural transformation, industrialization, technology transfer, and overall economic development, for all members and, in particular, for the global south that faces an investment deficit. Its incorporation could help bring these tangible and real benefits to the global south.
At China’s trade policy review last week, one member intervened that, I quote, “we hope China would support issues concerning ‘global south’ giving real and tangible benefits to developing and least developed countries”, end of quote. We heard it and couldn’t agree more. China will continue to do that. In the meantime, China would also like to invite this member to support such common course, well demonstrated in the IFD, for the global south, and bring these tangible and real benefits to the global south.
To save time, I will not repeat the points I already made in the last TNC meeting. I just want to emphasize, from economic point of view, the incorporation of IFDA has a typical Pareto Improvement Effect. We shall do it.
In response to the objections, constructive dialogues and exchanges are the only way to move forward and build consensus. In this regard, we suggest to establish a formal process with the GC chair as a facilitator, so as to find solutions and facilitate consensus to incorporate IFDA into WTO framework at the early date.
Thank you.
Item 4
Recalling difficulties of the MC12 and MC13’s preparation work, China does see merits to start the preparation of the DG appointment process at an early date, so that the process of the DG appointment does not overlap with the preparations for MC14.
WTO faces many challenges and unfinished tasks, and needs to maintain strong and effective leadership. In this regard, China highly appreciates the DG Ngozi’s dedication and accomplishments.
To facilitate the appointment process, China would like to echo the African Group in requesting the DG to make herself available to serve a second term at an early date.
Item 10
Thank you Chair.
We noticed that discussions on operationalizing paragraph 21 have been implemented in the CTS. Some members shared their exposure to various forms of crises and underscored the importance of being proactive and prepared for future crisis response. China is open to discuss this topic with other members in the future.
China supports GC to play its coordinating role in the follow up discussions. At the same time, in order to advance them in a more structured way, the scope and approach of discussions should be clarified as soon as possible, and also what committee could be the appropriate venue for such discussions.
Thank you. Chair.
Item 11
Thank you, Chair.
China is deeply disappointed that the item proposed by Iceland is moved from the category of “For Decision” to this section. We come to this meeting bearing the high hope and firm determination to deliver this long-awaited outcome, not only because the latest Chair’s text, in the views of vast majority of members, strikes a delicate balance and serves as a solid basis for conclusion, but also because the fish and this planet cannot wait any longer. However, the opportunity has not even been given to members to make a final attempt in this meeting to deliver something for the common good.
We came a long way to where we are now, thanks to the hard work of our capable Chair, the Secretariat team as well as the consistent efforts of members. We all know that the current text is not perfect, and I also believe there will be no such a text that could satisfy each and every member. Nevertheless, if this set of already-good disciplines could be adopted and implemented, it can certainly bring real changes to rationale and behavior of members when they subsidize their fishing industries. Such changes will be able to contribute to the conservation of marine resources and achievement of the sustainability goal of SDG 14.6. Against this backdrop, the failure to deliver today is even more frustrating.
Chair and dear colleagues, members’ efforts to end negotiations, and to start negotiations, have failed many times. More importantly, each failure is due to same or similar reasons. So we need think about how to get out of this dilemma. If more inclusive approaches cannot be explored or used, I think we will have to repeat the failure again.
Let’s change. No reform, no success.
Thank you Chair.