7 May 2025

 1. Formal TNC Meeting

Thank you, Chair.

We want to thank the DG for your matrix and also the reports from the relevant chairs,and the Secretariatfor the preparation of the MC14. And also to express our strong appreciation to Cameroon and give our full support to their preparation of the MC14.

Against the current turbulence and crisis, we should never underestimate the difficulties on our way to MC14. We should not waste the crisis but make the crisis become the impetus and urgency to members.

While members will continue to stand on their long-standing positions, it is time to reflect on what is doable and what is not, and be ready to show flexibility on things that will not make anyone worse off, yet could benefit others, especially if they are in the interest of LDCs, African countries, and the credibility and the relevance of the WTO itself.

And DG, for your matrix, we need more time to review it, but anyhow, I would like to give our very preliminary feedback on this.

We support this roadmap, at least for two reasons. One is we want a successful MC14, and the second is that we want WTO reform.

Come to the structure, we agree with some previous speakers that it may be premature to say that we have just two days ofmeeting without extension. It depends on what will happen during the MC, and if we recall the previous MCs, there werealways extensions. So we would like to leave that open.

For the political and the procedure part, we fully support that Geneva First Principle, but in the meantime, we must have a good approach to ensure that Geneva process will be efficient, and ambassadors here should have full mandates.

With regard to the ministerial declaration, we always support for this, because we see it is important for the host, and sometimes could be a very important signal to show that it is a successful MC. But anyhow, what is the right time to start discussion and the format of it,  should be long or short, depend on how our work develops.

And for the substance priorities, I would like to give our comment on the WTO reform. We see that it is an important part, and as China always reiterates that we see that it is necessary for this organization to change the mindset, change the approach. Such changes should not be an upended change, but they should be consistent with and based on WTO intent and principles. And members' development rights should not be challenged or restricted.

For the specific examples listed there, I would like to say that although the WTO become more and more politicized, we should still focus on what is doable and what is in our capacity. So I would like to just point on  one element, that is developing member status. We understand that it is an issue relevant to the special and differential treatment. We are open to talk about how to discuss special and differential treatment in the specific negotiations, but we don't see that developing member status is a topic that is negotiable in this organization.

For the MC14 priorities, I just want to highlight the two areas that His Excellency, Cameroon Minister, identified in his address in the GC meeting. They are food security and Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA).

While we appreciate efforts to push forward the agricultural negotiations on traditional topics, we see food security as a doable area if members have political will and the agreement can be achieved without much internal policy changes.

For IFDA, under the current challenges, it is more important that members could unlock new sources of growth and development and the WTO could have new agreements up and running. What is at stake is a true development agenda and also an opportunity to make the WTO relevant to our time.

I thank you.

 2. Informal HoDs Meetings

Thank you, Chair. We would like to start by saying that we really appreciate the DG for your outreach efforts and the report on the Secretariat's activities and initiatives. And we also would like to thank the GC Chair for his consultations with members regarding the current situations.

I fully agree with you, DG, that the current trade turbulence makes LDCs more difficult. That is also why China stands up and takescountermeasures, not only for our own interests, but also for the global trade order, for this system and other members' interests.

Regarding the current trade conjunction, the challenges caused by unilateral tariffs are paramount. As you said, many other international organizations already have this on their tables with regard to the global challenges. For the WTO, as an organization directly responsible for regulating international trade and monitoring the implementation of WTO rules, keeping silence will only make this organization more irrelevant.

Actually, we have already heard from the members the need and the call for preserving the multilateral trading system, for monitoring and conducting impact analysis, in particular on the most vulnerable members, and for ensuring transparency and WTO consistency of relevant bilateral negotiations, etc.

In this regard, we welcome GC Chair's initiative on an information session as a start. And we do hope that with this session we will have more clear aboutthe further work that we can do. Anyhow, the WTO must act.

Regarding the transparency of the Secretariat work, we appreciate quick response to our request on the establishment of Secretariat' initiative portal. We encourage the Secretariatto continue improving its communication with the members and to ensure transparency. In the meantime, we must be mindful that enhancing transparency is neither about seeking permission or approval from members, nor about micromanaging the Secretariat's work.

Regarding the current budget constraints, we want to emphasize that faithful fulfillment of financial commitments is vital for WTO daily running. We express sympathy for members that are struggling financially and unable to pay their contributions. For this, we encourage these members to work with the Secretariat and come up with flexible payment plans, so as to meet their obligations. For those members that are in a position to make payments, we call on them to fulfill such obligations expeditiously.

And finally,I would like to share, maybe some of you have already known, for the continuity of Global Trust Fund activities, China contributed US $500,000 to Global Trust Fund just a couple of weeks ago.

Thank you.