China Urges Equal World Trading Environment for Developing NationsA Chinese government representative urged Monday the creation of an international multilateral trading system based on fairness and equality, in which developing countries are ensured an unimpeded and indiscriminate access of their products to the international market.Delivering a speech at the 56th session of the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Zhang Yesui, head of the Chinese delegation and assistant foreign minister, said a sound multilateral trading system is of special importance to developing countries. "We should work together to establish and maintain a reliable and predictable international multilateral trading system and environment based on fairness and equality, a system which will help the development of all countries, developing ones in particular," said Zhang. He urged the World Trade Organization (WTO) to implement to the full the agreements of the Uruguay Round, noting that many elements of the agreements that are of great concern to developing countries have not been implemented fully or in a timely fashion. "Developed countries should effectively fulfill their obligations and give developing countries greater market access to enable the latter to benefit from the process of trade and investment liberalization," he said. Zhang also urged the proposed new round of WTO negotiations to give full consideration to the interests of developing countries. He said it is important to ensure effective participation of developing countries and adequate solicitation of their views and to accommodate the needs and concerns of these countries in a balanced and fair manner in deciding the agenda. "Trade protectionism in whatever forms should be firmly opposed, " Zhang said. "Environmental protection, labor standards and other such issues should not be included in the new round of negotiations." "Still less should one try to politicize trade issues, erect new trade barriers in the name of environmental protection or labor standards and resort to protectionism against developing countries to offset their comparative advantage in international trade and hamper their economic growth," he pointed out. Saying China is in the final procedural stage in its efforts to join the WTO, Zhang promised that the country will earnestly observe the WTO rules and fulfill its commitments. He also declared that apart form the U.S. dollar contribution, China will increase its local currency contribution to ESCAP from 750,000 renminbi yuan last year (90,300 dollars) to 1 million yuan (120,480 dollars) this year. The theme topic of the 56th session, which is being held here from June 1 to 7, is "development through globalization and partnership in the 21st century: an Asia-Pacific perspective for integrating developing countries and economies in transition into the international trading system on a fair and equitable basis." ESCAP, based in Bangkok, is the largest of the five U.N. regional commissions, comprising 52 members and nine associate members and representing some 60 percent of the world's population, or 3.5 billion people. |
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