WT/MIN(17)/ST/127  
 
25 January 2018  
(18-0648) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H. E. DR ZHONG SHAN  
MINISTER OF COMMERCE  OF THE PEOPLE 'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA  
CHINA 
First of all, on behalf of the Government of China, I 'd like to  congratulate  on the successful 
opening of the 11th  WTO Ministerial Conference  in Argentina and thank the Government of 
Argentina  for all the effort it has put into the MC11 and the great hospitality it has accorded to the 
Chinese delegation . 
 
The 19th National Congress of the  Communist Party of China successfully held in October in 
Beijing established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. 
President Xi made it clear at the Congress that China supports the multilateral trading system  and 
pushes for an open world economy. I would like to take this opportunity to make three points from 
three dimensions, namely the past, the present and the future.  
 
First, economic globalization is an irreversible historic trend. Opening -up is essential to prosp erity 
and growth . Economic globalization has been a strong driving force  for the world economy over 
the past decades. Today, with all economies closely interwoven, no single country can face new 
situations and  challenges  on its own. We should push the proc ess of globalization towards a more 
open, inclusive  and balanced direction so that all parties will win and different countries, 
communities and peoples  can truly benefit from globalization through  building a community of a 
shared future for mankind.  
 
Second, the multilateral trading system is a critical safeguard for prosperity and development. 
History has proved  that trade is a major growth engine  and the WTO rules a significant 
institutional safeguard for economic globalization in the common interest of all countries . In the 
light of the challenges now facing globalization and the multilateral trading system, we call on all 
members to stay committed to the WTO 's basic principles -open, transparen t, inclusive, non -
discriminat ory and rules -based, so that this organization can play a bigger role. As a strong 
proponent of the multilateral trading system, China has made contributions to the Trade 
Facilitation Agreement Fund  with a view to helping the WTO members that have difficul ty in 
implementing the agreement. In order to help the LDCs integrate into the multilateral trading 
system, China has signed an MOU with the WTO Secretariat on the 7th phase of the China 
Program. We are willing to work with all Members and adopt specific m easures to help more 
countries and regions join the big WTO family and achieve mutual benefits and win -win results 
through opening -up.  
 
Third, China is a staunch supporter for economic globalization. In 2013, Chinese President Xi 
Jinping put forth the Bel t and Road initiative  (BRI) , proposing to build a new platform for 
international cooperation in the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared 
benefits , and create new drivers for common development. Over the past four years, the BR I has 
been commended and well -received by  over 140 countries and more than 80 international 
organizations. A month ago, President Xi Jinping told business leaders at the APEC Business 
Summit in Da Nang of Vietnam that China would open its market wider and pursue more 
comprehensive development. In the next 15 years, it is estimated that China will import 
US$24  trillion worth of goods and make US$2 trillion of outbound investment.  
 
In November next year, China will host the first China International Import Ex po (CIIE)  in 
Shanghai . The CIIE is a big step for China to promote economic globalization and open up its WT/MIN(17)/ST/127  
 
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  market as well as a public good that it provides for inclusive and mutually -beneficial global growth. 
China will facilitate all countries in their par ticipation and give more preferences to developing 
countries and the LDCs. In our estimation, over 120 countries and international organizations will 
send representatives to the Expo and 150,000 professional buyers will come to do business. We 
look forward  to your coming and sharing the benefits brought by China' s economic growth. On the 
sidelines of the CIIE, we will host the Hongqiao International Trade Forum focused on the latest 
developments in global trade and investment. We welcome active participatio n by WTO members.  
 
Let us join hands and take real actions to uphold the authority and efficacy of the WTO and push 
the international economic order towards a more equitable and rational direction.  
 
In closing, I wish the WTO MC11 a great success.  
 
__________