RD/COMTD/AFT/26* 
21 November 2023  
 Page: 1/2 
Committee on Trade and Development  
(Aid for Trade)  Original:  English/anglais/inglés  
 
  
UNOFFICIAL ROOM DOCUMENT1 
COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT – 59TH SESSION ON AID FOR TRADE  
STATEMENT BY CHINA  
14 November 2023  
 
 
Comité du commerce et du développement (Aide pour le commerce)  
 
DOCUMENT DE S ÉANCE NON OFFICIEL1 
COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT – 59TH SESSION ON AID FOR TRADE  
STATEMENT BY CHINA  
14 November 2023  
 
 
 
Comité de Comercio y Desarrollo (Ayuda para el Comercio)  
 
DOCUMENTO DE SALA NO OF ICIAL1 
COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT – 59TH SESSION ON AID FOR TRADE  
STATEMENT BY CHINA  
14 November 2023  
 
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* In Original language only/En langue originale seulement/En el idioma original solamente.  
1 Documents issued in the RD series are not official WTO documents. They usually appear in their 
language of submission and will not be translated systematically into the working languages of the WTO. They 
are intended for use in WTO me eting rooms and are attributed an unofficial symbol for archiving purposes only.  
Les documents de la série RD ne sont pas des documents officiels de l 'OMC. Ils ne paraissent 
généralement que dans la langue dans laquelle ils ont été communiqués et ne seron t pas systématiquement 
traduits dans les langues de travail de l'OMC. Ils sont destinés aux salles de réunion de l'OMC et une cote non 
officielle leur est attribuée à des fins d'archivage.  
Los documentos de la serie RD no son documentos oficiales de la OMC . Por lo general se distribuyen en 
el idioma en que han sido presentados y no se traduce n sistemáticamente a los idiomas de trabajo de la 
Organización. Se distribuyen para su uso en las salas de reunión de la OMC y se les asigna una signatura no 
oficial a efectos de archivo únicamente.  RD/COMTD/AFT/26  
 
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  STATEMENT BY CHINA  
 
Since 2023, China has been actively implementing Aid for Trade initiatives, helping developing 
members to improve trade infrastructure, and actively carrying out technical assistance and capacity 
building, helping developing members to continuously enhance their trade development capacity:  
 
First, China supported infrastructure construction. China has assisted in trade infrastructure 
construct ion such as airports, terminals, roads and bridges, and port facilities for more than 50 
countries, including Pakistan, Laos, Cambodia, Tajikistan, Mozambique and Vanuatu. Which helps 
promote regional interconnection and enhance trade facilitation.  
 
Secondly, China helps safeguard food security and post -pandemic livelihood recovery. Under the 
Global Development and South -South Cooperation Fund and in cooperation with FAO, China 
implemented Food Aid project for Afghanistan and Yemen.  
 
Thirdly, China k eeps sharing applicable technologies. In 2023, China has implemented 24 technical 
assistance projects. For instance, China shares juncao cultivation techniques in Fiji, agricultural 
techniques in Sao Tome and Principe, and bamboo and rattan weaving techniq ues in Liberia, which 
have accelerated the upgrading of local industries and promoted local employment. Moreover, China 
has provided materials such as container inspection equipment, customs cargo inspection systems, 
agricultural machinery and equipment, s hips and vehicles to nearly 20 countries, including Myanmar, 
Georgia, Bolivia, Tonga and Uganda, to help the recipient countries improve the efficiency of cargo 
inspection and customs clearance, and raise the level of customs modernisation.  
 
Fourth, China conducts practical cooperation with international organisations. China provided 
earmarked funds to UNIDO and ITU for the implementation of projects such as "upgrading the value 
chain of the livestock industry in Ethiopia" and "technical assistance for Ugan da's national 
information and communication development strategy".  
 
Fifthly, China implements cooperation with developing members on capacity building. China has 
organised technical workshops on Timor -Leste's accession to the WTO, trade facilitation for 
developing countries, rural e -commerce, etc. China held more than 60 multilateral or bilateral 
training programmes. And more than 2,000 trainees were trained for developing members, focusing 
on various areas such as port management, e -commerce, customs, trad e and economic cooperation, 
poverty reduction and digital economy.  
 
Moreover, the 2023 South -South Dialogue was held in Lausanne on 28 -29 September as part of 
China's LDCs and accessions Programme  aimed at strengthening LDC's participation in the WTO. 
This year's Dialogue focused on the priorities in WTO negotiations ahead of MC13, LDC trade 
priorities, boosting trade and development in the WTO, and supporting LDCs integration into digital 
trade. Close to 30 LDCs took part in the discussions. The speakers included the General Council Chair 
and the Chairs of the negotiating bodies (Agriculture and Rules). Ambassadors of India, European 
Union, the United States as well the Coordinators of the ACP (Samoa) and African Group (Cameroon) 
joined the event as speake rs. The DG urged LDCs to remain engaged in the discussions on WTO 
reform, and negotiations in the areas of agriculture, fisheries subsidies, and various ongoing 
plurilateral initiatives. The LDC Coordinator (Djibouti) and the Ambassador of China also spoke  at 
the opening session. The GC Chair highlighted that MC13 was an opportunity to make progress in 
supporting LDC's integration into the global economy. On the session of Boosting trade and 
development in the WTO, underscored the role of the WTO in facilit ating trade and development. 
LDCs concurred on the need to reinvigorate the trade and development discussion at the WTO ahead 
of MC13. The need for policy space and strengthening of S&DT provisions in key WTO Agreements 
such as TRIPS, Agreement on Agricult ure, and Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies were highlighted. 
Ways of supporting LDCs' trade and development were explored. The speakers recognized the need 
for a granular approach to address varying development challenges of WTO Members, and 
emphasized on i dentifying specific solutions. The Investment 2 Facilitation for Development 
discussions were also pointed out as means to creating a predictable and conducive environment for 
LDCs to attract FDI. Leveraging on digital trade and diversification into the se rvices sector was 
reiterated as imperative to fostering trade and development in LDCs.  
 
 
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