3. Xi backs WTO reform

Xi Jinping emphasizes during eighth collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee:

Actively participate in the reform of the World Trade Organization and improve the ability to control high-level opening-up

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 27 – The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held the eighth collective study session on the rules of the World Trade Organization and the reform of the World Trade Organization on the afternoon of September 27th. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, emphasized when presiding over the study that the World Trade Organization is an important pillar of multilateralism and an important stage for global economic governance. Necessary reform of the World Trade Organization is a general consensus and a general trend. We must deeply understand the importance and urgency of participating in the reform of the World Trade Organization from the perspective of better coordinating the overall domestic and international situations, and better coordinating development and security, and fully participate in the World Trade Organization with a more active historical responsibility and creative spirit Reform and adjustment of international economic and trade rules, and promote in-depth reform and high-quality development with high-level opening up.

Gu Xueming, director and researcher of the Research Institute of the Ministry of Commerce, explained this issue and put forward work suggestions. Comrades from the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee listened carefully to the explanation and held discussions.

Xi Jinping delivered an important speech after listening to the explanation and discussion. He pointed out that joining the World Trade Organization is a milestone in my country's opening up. In just over 20 years, my country's total trade in goods has increased 11 times, becoming the world's largest trade country in goods and a major trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions, contributing nearly 30% to global economic growth annually. my country's relationship with the World Trade Organization has undergone historic changes. It has gradually grown from a passive recipient and active adapter of international economic and trade rules to an important participant. Facts have shown that my country's entry into the World Trade Organization has not only accelerated its own development, but also benefited the world. This major decision is completely correct.

Xi Jinping emphasized that to participate in the reform of the World Trade Organization, we must firmly safeguard the authority and effectiveness of the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization as the core, and actively promote the restoration of the normal operation of the World Trade Organization's dispute settlement mechanism. We must stand firmly on the right side of history, adhere to the general direction of economic globalization, unequivocally advocate free trade and true multilateralism, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, oppose the politicization, weaponization, and pan-security of economic and trade issues, and promote the construction of openness world economy. We must uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and improve and refine China’s plan for comprehensive and in-depth participation in the reform of the World Trade Organization. We will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, including my country.

Xi Jinping pointed out that promoting reform and development through opening up is an important magic weapon for my country's modernization drive to continuously achieve new achievements. This year marks the 45th anniversary of reform and opening up. We must continue to do a good job in reforming ourselves, not only expanding the door to opening up, but also stabilizing the path of reform. We must be more proactive in aligning with high-standard international economic and trade rules, steadily expand institutional opening up such as rules, regulations, management, and standards, accelerate the creation of new highlands for opening up, build a new higher-level open economic system, and accelerate the construction of a new development pattern. It is necessary to actively create a market-oriented, legal and international first-class business environment, and take the opportunity to promote the accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement to further stimulate import potential, relax market access, Promote the in-depth development of multilateral and bilateral cooperation and enhance the attraction of foreign investment. It is necessary to accelerate the construction of a strong trading country, upgrade goods trade, innovate service trade, develop digital trade, take digital greening as the direction, further enhance the status of the international division of labor, and move towards the mid-to-high end of the global value chain. At the same time, we must pay attention to maintaining national economic security.

Xi Jinping emphasized the need to develop excellent skills in controlling high-level opening up. Daxing investigates and studies, summarizes and makes good use of my country's successful experience in opening up and development, strengthens strategic, systematic and forward-looking planning for opening up work, and accurately understands new situations and new issues in the field of international economic and trade, so as to be aware of it and have strategies at hand , take powerful actions. Improve the ability to use international rules to safeguard my country's development rights and interests, and accelerate the creation of a high-level professional opening-up team with strong politics, high skills, and excellent work styles. We should coordinate openness and security, maintain security, promote rights and interests in the struggle, and seek cooperation and strive for win-win results.