WT/ACC/20  
WT/GC/153  
WT/MIN(13)/2  
 
22 October 2013  
(13-5818)  Page: 1/22  
  Original: English  
 
COMMUNICATION FROM LAO PDR 
LETTER FROM THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE OF LAO PDR, 
H.E. DR. NAM VIYAKETH 
The following communication, dated 17 October 2013,  addressed to the Director-General of the 
World Trade Organization and to the Chairman of the General Council, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of Lao PDR.  
 
_______________ 
 
 
SECOND CHINA ROUND TABLE: THE FUTURE OF THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM: 
PERSPECTIVES OF ARTICLE XII MEMBERS AND LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES 
LUANG PRABANG, LAO PDR, 15-17 OCTOBER 2013 
I am pleased to inform you that the Second China Round Table (RT) took place, in Luang Prabang, 
Lao PDR, from 15 to 17 October.  The Round Table was opened jointly by Deputy China International Trade Representative Yu, Director of WTO Accessions and myself, Dr. Nam Viyaketh, 
as Minister of Industry and Commerce.  The Prog ramme of the Second Round Table and the List of 
Participants are attached. 
The Second Round Table was organized and coordina ted by the WTO Secretariat, sponsored by the 
Government of China under the China Programme and hosted by the Lao Peoples Democratic 
Republic. 
Thirty-six (36) participants attended the Round Table.  These included Ministers, the Deputy Prime 
Minister of Samoa, representatives of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and 
the International Trade Centre (ITC).  The RT be nefitted from the contributions of leading trade 
economists.   
Exchanges at the RT were intensive and produc tive.  The Round Table generated a range of 
meaningful ideas, worthy of note and reflection by the WTO Membership.   
The thematic focus of this year's Round Table was on the Future of the Trading System: 
Perspectives of Article XII Members and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) .  There were 6 sessions 
at the RT.  The starting point was a review of the main features defining the contemporary global 
economy and the identification of the main developments with implications for trade policy both within the WTO and the wider global trading system.  Dedicated sessions addressed questions 
ranging from the contributions of WTO Accession  to the Multilateral Trading System (MTS); the 
Macroeconomic Implications of WTO Accessions; the Future of the MTS; Effective Participation of Article XII Members and Acceding Governments in the MTS; and, Technical Assistance and 
Capacity Building.  The Representative of In donesia briefed the RT participants on the 
arrangements for the 9
th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC9) in Bali, 3 to 6 December, and 
underlined the priorities and highlighted the is sues at stake.  The Round Table unanimously 
supported the deliverables for the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference and the leadership of 
WTO Director-General, Roberto Azevêdo, to coordinate the negotiations by WTO Members to this 
end.  WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
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  O n  m y  o w n  r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ,  I  a m  f o r w a r d i n g  i n  t h e  p a r a g r a p h s  t h a t  f o l l o w ,  a  s u m m a r y  o f  t h e  
presentations and exchange of views at th e RT, at the request of participants.   
Overall, the RT addressed the core question abou t the present and the future of the WTO and the 
rules-based MTS.  The RT underlined the irreplaceable value of a strong and relevant World Trade 
Organization, with an "updated rule book", respon ding, expeditiously, to global challenges and 
central to global governance in policy coherence with other multilateral institutions.   
There was support, re-iterated over and again, fo r a decision at the MC9 to adopt an Agreement 
on Trade Facilitation, decide on a development package, and proceed with an understanding on 
the most appropriate ways to ensure food security.  In doing so, RT participants welcomed the leadership by WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo in the negotiations underway in Geneva, expressed appreciation to the Government of Indonesia for its on-going preparatory work to 
ensure a successful 9
th WTO Ministerial Conference and underscored the critical importance by 
G-20, APEC and ASEAN Summits to support the defi ned Package for the Bali Ministerial, at their 
recent meetings.   
A recurrent theme, across the 3-day RT was the crucial importance of WTO accession acquis .  
Participants considered that the deposited Accession Protocols had contributed to safeguarding and strengthening the rules-based MTS, as a balance of rights and obligations.  In this context, 
participants welcomed the adoption of the Draft Accession Package of Yemen ad referendum  on 
26 September and looked forward to its formal adoption at the Bali Ministerial.  Participants requested WTO Members to engage intensively in those accession Working Party negotiations, where there were prospects for conclusion by the Bali Ministerial.  RT participants welcomed the 
efforts under way, led by the WTO Secretariat, to consolidate and analyse the substantive results 
of WTO Accession Protocols, gather the experien ces of Chief Negotiators of Members, including 
Article XII Members that had participated in thes e negotiations, and improve global public policy 
understanding of key issues in WTO Accession Protocols.  The analysis underway should identify 
best practices and lessons learned.  These should be of value for strengthening the WTO.   
RT participants considered that the essentials of  the exchange of views, in particular sessions, 
would be of value for the Director-General, the Chairman of the General Council and Members in 
this preparatory period for the MC9.  
Trade Policy Developments in the Global Economy 
This start-up session focused on trade policy deve lopments in the contemporary global economy.  
The exchange of views was initiated by data-based  presentations by two leading trade economists.  
This session reviewed the factors shaping the global economy and the key challenges.  Areas for trade priority focus were identified.  There was a review of the principal global forces shaping trade 
and the emergent characteristics of the global trading system.   
The broad sweep of factors influencing the global economy included macroeconomic instability, 
with the epicenter of crises, rotating between developed and developing countries.  Developing 
countries are emerging, acting as stabilizers in periods of economic shock and as sources of 
growth.  Yet, they were also exhibiting weaknesse s, suggesting that they also required continued 
policy reforms and adjustments.  Projections suggested that the largest economies in the future would be in developing countries.  Inequality was rising and combined with poverty remained 
major challenges.  Regardless of growth rates, non-inclusive growth was not sustainable.  Climate 
change posed a major and urgent challenge.  The demographic transition was accelerating.  This transition was characterised by the trend in which a future labour force would originate from 
developing countries.   
Trade policy could not be isolated from the main factors and challenges shaping the global 
economy.  Trade tended to be a stimulus and a vector.  The unique interaction between trade and 
technology was a case in point.  Technology was a factor in reshaping international trade.  
Although a central element in any strategy for long-term development, trade reflected the pressures of macroeconomic instability and geopolitical difficulties.  Economic crises generated protectionist pressures.  The cost of protection had vastly increased and was much higher than 
generally understood.  Protectionism had become murkier, "smarter" and was higher in services 
trade.  Yet, in the challenging circumstances of the global economy, there were opportunities.  WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
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  Trade and production interacted to the extent that trade was in the context of Global Value Chains 
(GVCs).  The increase in vertical integration and specialization was a fundamental feature of global trade.  Trade was also being driven by policy reforms.   
The RT addressed the question what the WTO could do to respond to the current challenges, 
consolidate its mandate, and ensure its future relevance.  There was a range of views.  For 
instance, it was felt that the WTO could support the process of vertical specialization in those regions of the world, such as Africa, that were no t fully participating.  Developments in the real 
economy made evident that the focus needed to be  on the reduction of trade costs and elimination 
of behind-the-border regulatory restrictions, espe cially in services.  Trade competitiveness was a 
function of the cost of inputs many of which were in services.  The facts indicated that services trade must be an area of priority focus for the WTO.  The results of the review by RT participants 
indicated that the GDP effects (gains) from reducing supply chain barriers were much higher than 
from tariff reduction.  In sum, the big gains from trade lay in organizing border management; services; and, vertical specialization.  It was imperative that the WTO concluded an Agreement on 
Trade Facilitation.  Failure to conclude an  Agreement on Trade Facilitation would be une 
opportunité manquée .   
The RT discussed the Mega-Regional liberalization acti vities.  The apparent aim of these so called 
21
st Century Trade Agreements was to define new standards and rules that raised the bar.  The 
agenda of negotiations were largely regulatory.  They ranged across investments (FDI), logistics supply chains, services (business and professional services), State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), competition policy, Intellectual Property Rights pr otection (data protection and privacy), product 
standards, border management, security, and a raft of regulatory restrictions.  In reviewing the 
range of these items on the negotiating agenda of  RTAs and Mega-Regionals, it was observed that 
these had been considered and specific obligations agreed across most of these by Article XII 
Members.  As such, participants encouraged the ea rly stock-taking of the sum of the results from 
WTO Accession Acquis  and to draw appropriate lessons for the future of the rules-based trading 
system.   
Round Table participants acknowledged the inevitability of a variable geometry for trade opening.  
Approaches to trade opening would never be one-dimensional.  Trade opening could be autonomous, bilateral, regional, trans-regional, and/or Plurilateral within the MTS.  Plurilateral Agreements could be vehicles for "multilateralizing" specific trade provisions, as long as they were 
"open" and "transparent".  It was imperative and urgent that a sub-set of the Membership could 
proceed faster than the rest, through "Enhanced Cooperation", if they wanted to.  Yet, in 
acknowledging this variable geometry, RT participants noted the "costs of a non-Doha Round"; 
such as global systemic costs, trade diversion costs and the "excluded".  In this context, the 
integrity of the Doha Round was re-affirmed.   
On new issues, space had to be created in the WTO for Members to engage "freely", exchange 
views objectively, without the strictures of s eeking a negotiating advantage.  Leadership was 
required.  While the traditional powers were handicapped, there was scope for emerging economies to raise their game.  The Round Table agreed that the role of China would be influential in the future of the rules-based MTS.   
T he  RT  fe lt that the re  were  le s s ons  to d raw, as  a p ub lic  g ood , from R T As  and  on-g oing  M eg a-
Regionals.  These lessons go beyond "documenting RTA coverage".  The WTO Secretariat needed to be strengthened and allowed to undertake analysis to strengthen the Organization as a global 
public good.   
Overall, the conclusion was that there was no substitute for deeper international cooperation, in its 
various formats.  "Countries needed to hang together, or they would hang separately".   
The Future of the Multilateral Trading System 
There was a far-reaching and systemic review by the Round Table on the issues, currently on the 
table at many fora, on the Future of the Multilat eral Trading System.  The core of the exchange 
drew from issues identified from the Sessions on  the factors shaping the global economy and the 
contribution of WTO accessions; and the agenda identified and recommended for trade priority WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
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  focus.  The RT discussions were enriched by the pr esentations, including different perspectives on 
the future of the MTS, new factors shaping international and regional trade, and FDI. 
The Round Table benefited from the presentation on the "Future of the Asia Project; a joint project 
of the Government of Canada (Policy Horizons Canada) and the Government of Australia 
(Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet).  The project is working to identify potential 
surprises and discontinuities that could emerge in Asia and that, in turn, could create significant challenges and/or opportunities for Asia.     
Most felt that the centre of economic gravity had shifted to Asia.  Asia offered useful lessons for 
trade and investment liberalization through regional integration, manifested in the formation of global production networks and the proliferation of FTAs.  The dynamics in Asia were inter-linked with recovery and growth in the global economy.  A point that emerged in the discussions is that 
the quality of governance remained central for growth.    
In this wide-ranging review of the Future of the MTS, a "relevance agenda"  for the future was 
evident as follows:  
- A decision by Ministers at the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali, in favour of the 
"Package" being negotiated for Trade Facilitation; (some) Development; and (some) Agriculture issues.  An Agreement on Trade Facili tation at Bali was of overriding importance 
for the credibility of the WTO;   
- A Post-Bali Roadmap;  - Re-establishing the balance between regular work, dispute settlement and the negotiating 
function for rule-making; 
- Immediate discussions amongst Members for a potential negotiating agenda that includes 
addressing regulatory barriers, environment, disciplines for competition and investment; 
- An agreement on services; 
- Establishing an MFN (non-discriminatory) modus vivendi  that accommodates the variable 
geometry of Plurilateral Agreements, FTAs/PTAs;  
- An enhanced role for the Secretariat to research, analyse and assess, including consolidating 
the systemic results of negotiations by Members; and  
- Widening the scope of monitoring and su rveillance mechanisms of the WTO.   
Contributions of WTO Accessions to the Multilateral Trading System 
The contributions of WTO Accessions were the connecting thread for the Round Table.  The 
Secretariat of the WTO made a presentation.  Thirty-one countries or separate customs territories 
had acceded to the WTO, pursuant to Article XII of the Marrakesh Agreement.  These Members now accounted for 19.5% of the total WTO Membership.  Yemen would soon join this group.  Their 
trade accounted for 17% of total world trade.  The results from WTO Accessions had produced 
positive effects for WTO rules, significant improvements in market access, domestic reforms in the acceding governments, and fostered broader international (and specific geographical) 
relationships.  There was unanimous support by Round Table participants of the WTO accession 
process as a uniquely, powerful instrument for domestic reforms and international cooperation.  Round Table participants welcomed the position  by the WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo 
that Accession was a strategic priority .  WTO Accessions had raised the profile of trade, trade 
policy and the WTO.  The enlargement of the WT O and the expansion of its rules to cover the 
entire global economy were integral to the futu re of the WTO.  While assessments of accessions 
were roundly positive, there were valuable specific views that are singled out.  Because they were 
tough, detailed, neither rushed nor with arti ficial deadlines, accession negotiations were 
indispensable in forging consensus.  Accession negotiations appeared to be an effective instrument that promoted reforms that assisted LDCs' graduation, as had been the case for Cape Verde, and 
which were imminent for Samoa and Vanuatu.  Its effectiveness was predicated, inter alia , on the WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
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  fact that it had emerged as a viable instrument for mainstreaming trade into development policies 
and was a long-term commitment to the international community for trade integration and cooperation.  Its results had served to strength en the rules-based trading system and to a large 
extent, were pointing to the future of the Organization.  The role of Facilitators should continue on 
Accessions. 
The Round Table welcomed the positive signal from  the representative of Bhutan about the fact 
that his new Government was reviewing the dormant WTO accession process.  The RT pledged 
support and requested the WTO Secretariat to design a targeted programme of TA to support the 
process of re-starting this dormant accession.    There was country-specific support offered at the Round Table by several participants.   
The Macroeconomic Implications of WTO Accessions 
This session reviewed the macroeconomic implications of WTO Accessions, based on a presentation 
from the IMF.  The RT considered that the WT O accession was a unique and powerful multilateral 
instrument for domestic reforms, compared to other approaches to reform because of its system-
wide effects.  In particular, WTO accession commitments played a role to assist countries to 
achieve a sustainable macroeconomic situation by promoting domestic reforms and systemic 
stability.  It was not always possible to fully understand the macroeconomic effects of accessions 
ex ante .  However, these effects and their implications should be broadly positive due to the 
elimination of distortions, removal of taxes on imports and exports, greater efficiency and openness to trade, coupled with improved and good governance.  The specific macroeconomic effects of accession commitments are better understood within a holistic macroeconomic 
framework and assessed on a country-by-county basis because of the uniqueness of domestic 
economies and the broader (international environment) in which they operated.  Although there were concerns about the length of accession nego tiations before conclusion, many participants 
considered that accession-related reforms were "long-term commitments for trade integration".  
Time and patience were required for reforms, conducted as a result of WTO accessions, to 
manifest and bear fruit.  RT participants roundly acknowledged that the macroeconomic angle in 
analysing WTO accession commitments had to be combined with and be complemented by other 
approaches.  To this end, the "structural reform implications of WTO Accessions were highlighted.  Some noted that this may be far more important.  The structural reform aspects of WTO accessions should be reviewed under four headings namely: i) export development; ii) domestic 
market enhancement to encourage competition an d privatization policies, improve the business 
climate for the attraction of investments; iii) investments in infrastructure and long-term human capital; and, iv) domestic social reform measur es to address sectors, where displacement costs 
had emerged.   
Effective Participation of Article X II Members and Acceding Governments  
In this session, presentations were made by from Acceding Governments and Article XII Members.  
Acceding Governments identified their negotiating pr iorities and the challenges they faced in their 
accession negotiations.  Article XII Members offere d their support and shared their experiences.   
Acceding Governments underlined several priorities .  The importance for them to achieve growth, 
reduce poverty, and obtain policy space and flexibilities.  There were questions about the 
workability of the LDCs' Accessions Guidelines.  They underlined the virtually infinite need for 
technical assistance and capacity building, includ ing for achieving supply-side response following 
their accession commitments and associated reforms.   
The experiences shared by Article XII Members underscored the recurrent features in accession 
negotiations, particularly the influence of geopolitics; domestic reforms; the Q and A methodology in Accession rule-making; post-Accession needs and implementation challenges; strengthening 
"Geneva Negotiating Capacity"; and, maximizing the benefits of WTO Membership through active 
participation.   
Technical Assistance for Least Develope d Countries and Acceding Governments 
The Session on Technical Assistance and Capacity Building was the final substantive session.  
Long-term development of human capital and infr astructure development were indispensable in WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
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  sustaining reforms and trade integration.  Specifically, they improved the knowledge base for 
accession negotiations.  In this session, several Members and institutions presented their menu of technical assistance.  The WTO Secretariat presented its "Accessions Tool Box", specifically developed to assist Acceding Governments and LDCs' in particular.   
The Round Table appreciated the World Bank Booth on Aid for Trade, which set-out what the Bank 
has on offer in this valuable inter-fa ce between Trade and Development.   
In conclusion, participants agreed that exchanges at the Round Table had provided an opportunity 
to contribute to the on-going global discussions, particularly within the WTO on the factors shaping 
global trade, the challenges facing the global economy and the WTO, the opportunities that the WTO must seize to ensure progress and its relevance as a major and credible actor in multilateral governance.  A strong appeal was launched by the Round Table for leadership by WTO Members to 
decide in favour of an Agreement on Trade Facilitation, a development package, and agreed 
language on some agriculture issues.  Director-General Roberto Azevêdo was encouraged to sustain his leadership to ensure a successful Bali Ministerial Conference and thereafter, to initiate 
consultations on a Post-Bali Road Map.  Similarl y, the Round Table expressed appreciation to the 
Representative of Indonesia at the Round Table and through him transmitted appreciation to his 
Government for its broad-based consultations, including within APEC, to ensure a successful 
9
th WTO Ministerial Conference.  The Round Table expressed its appreciation to the 
WTO Secretariat for developing the substantive agenda and organizing the China Round Table series, as well as contributing with dedicated presentations.   
As host Minister, in coordination with the Gove rnment of China and the WTO Director-General, I 
will consult on the next host for the China Round Table Series, which participants acknowledged 
had emerged as a key forum for an objective exchange of views, with practical recommendations to promote a robust and forward-looking rules-ba sed Multilateral Trading System, adapted to the 
21
st Century.  The participants unanimously expressed their wish to sustain the Round Table series 
and for the extension of the China Programme. 
On the final day, Round Table participants observed a minute of silence for those who had lost 
their lives in the air crash of Lao PDR domestic airline on 16 October.   
On behalf of the Government of Lao PDR and Round  Table participants, I request that this letter 
and its attachment be circulated as a document of the General Council and the 9th WTO Ministerial 
Conference.    
 WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
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  ANNEX 1:  PARTICIPANT'S LIST 
SECOND CHINA ROUND TABLE ON WTO ACCESSIONS FOR LDCs  
 
LUANG PRABANG, LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, FROM 15 TO 18 OCTOBER 2013 
ACCEDING GOVERNMENTS 
Bhutan  Mr. Chhime TSHERING   
Chief Trade Officer 
Department of Trade Ministry of Economic Affairs 
Thimphu - Bhutan Tel: +975 2 322 407 
Fax: +975 327 827  
e-mail: ctshering@hotmail.com 
Liberia  H.E. Mr. Axel ADDY   
Minister 
Ministry of Commerce and 
Industry 
Ashmun and Gurley Streets,  
Monrovia - Liberia  Tel: +231 88 68 17 176 
E-mail: amaddy@moci.gov.lr; 
aascott@moci.gov.lr 
Sao Tome and Principe H.E. Mr. Demóstene 
VASCONCELOS PIRES DOS SANTOS   
Minister of Trade, Industry 
and Tourism Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism 
Largo das Alfândegas, CP 
233 Sao Tome 233 - Sao Tome 
and Principe  Tel: +239 222 42 29/222 49 75 
Fax: +239 222 48 70 E-mail: mcitstp@gmail.com 
Sao Tome and Principe Mr. Ronalg MENDES 
COSTA D'ASSUNCAO 
CARVALHO 
Adviser to the Minister  
Ministry of Trade, Industry 
and Tourism 
Sao Tome - Sao Tome and 
Principe  Tel: - 
Fax: - 
E-mail: nandometzger@hotmail.com;  
ronalgcarvalho@hotmail.com 
 
Yemen Mr. Nagib HAMIM   
Economic Attaché (WTO 
Affairs) Permanent Mission of the 
Republic of Yemen 
Chemin du Jonc, 19 1216 Cointrin - Switzerland - Yemen  Tel: +41 78 853 36 33 
Fax: 
E-mail: nahamim@gmail.com 
 WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
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WTO MEMBERS 
Brazil  Mr. Thiago FERNANDES   
Diplomat 
Market Access Division Ministry of External Affairs 
Esplanada Dos Ministérios, 
Bloco H, Anexo I, 50 Andar, Sala 505 
Brasilia - Brazil Tel: +55 61 203 088 79 
Fax: +55 61 203 088 78 
E-mail: thiago.fernandes@itamaraty.gov.br; 
thiago.carneiro@dalbrasgva.org 
Cambodia 
 
 H.E Mr. Sorasak PAN 
Secretary of State for 
Commerce 
Ministry of Commerce 
Lot 19-61, St. MoC (St. 113 
B) Phum/Sangkar Teuk Thla, 
Khan Sen Sok 
Phnom Penh 12205 - 
Cambodia  Tel: +855 11 670 997 
Fax: - 
e-mail: yuvaroath@yahoo.co.uk 
Cambodia Mr. Tan YUVAROATH 
Director of WTO Notification and Legal Compliance Ministry of Commerce 
Lot 19-61, St. MoC (St. 113 
B) Phum/Sangkar Teuk Thla, Khan Sen Sok 
Phnom Penh 12205 - 
Cambodia   Tel: +855 11 670 997/ 
+855 17 414 444 Fax: +855 23 866 469 e-mail: yuvaroath@yahoo.co.uk;  
yuvaroath@gmail.com 
China Mr. Jianhua YU  
Deputy China International 
Trade Representative 
Ministry of Commerce 
No.2 Dong Chang An 
Avenue,  
Beijing 100731 - China  Tel: +86 10 651 981 20 
Fax: +86 10 651 973 35 
E-mail: yujianhua@mofcom.gov.cn;  
chaixiaolin@mofcom.gov.cn; 
wtomission.china@gmail.com 
 
China Mr. Xiaodong HONG 
Deputy Director General 
Department of WTO Issues Ministry of Commerce 
No.2, Dong Chang An 
Avenue,  Beijing 100731 - China  Tel: +86 10 65 19 77 17 
Fax: +86 10 65 19 73 10
E-mail: : xdhong@mofcom.gov.cn;  
wtomission.china@gmail.com 
 
China Mr. Xiankun LU   
Counsellor 
Permanent Mission of the 
People's Republic of China to 
the WTO 
Route de Lausanne 228,  
1292 Chambésy - 
Switzerland - China  Tel: +41 22 909 76 90  
Fax: +41 22 909 76 99/ 
+41 22 909 76 88  
E-mail: luxiankun@mofcom.gov.cn;  
wtomission.china@gmail.com 
Indonesia 
 H.E. Mr. Edi YUSUP   
Deputy Permanent Representative  
- Indonesia 
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia 
to the United Nations 
Rue de Saint-Jean, 16 Geneva 1203, Switzerland   Tel: +41 22 338 33 50/345 57 33 
Fax: +41 22 940 17 34/345 57 33 E-mail: edi.yusup@mission-
indonesia.org WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
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  WTO MEMBERS 
Lao People's 
Democratic Republic 
 Mrs. Khemmani 
PHOLSENA   
Vice Minister  
Ministry of Industry and 
Commerce 
Xaysettha District, Phonexay 
Road (P.O. Box 4107),  
Vientiane - Lao People's 
Democratic Republic  Tel: +856 21 45 00 67 
Fax: +856 21 415 927 
E-mail: khemmani.p@laomoic.org; 
tan76778118@yahoo.com 
Lao People's 
Democratic Republic  H.E. Dr. Nam VIYAKETH   
Minister of Industry and Commerce 
Ministry of Industry and 
Commerce Phonexay Road  
(P.O. Box 4107),  
Vientiane - Lao People's Democratic Republic  Tel: +856 21 412 002 
Fax: +856 21 412 002/412 434 E-mail: namviyaketh@gmail.com; 
x.latsavong@laoftpd.com 
Lao People's 
Democratic Republic 
 H.E. Mr. Yong 
CHANTHALANGSY   
Former Ambassador & 
Permanent Representative 
of the Lao PDR in Geneva 
Vientiane - Lao People's 
Democratic Republic  E-mail: ychanthalangsy@yahoo.fr; 
bountheung.d@laomoic.org 
Lao People's 
Democratic Republic  Mr. Bounsom 
PHOMMAVIHANH Director General of Foreign 
Trade Policy Department 
Ministry of Industry and Commerce Phonexay Road  
(P.O. Box 4107),  
Vientiane - Lao People's Democratic Republic  Tel: +856 21 452 453 
Fax: +856 21 450 066 E-mail: bounsom2013@yahoo.com; 
seom-laos@laomoic.org 
 
Lao People's 
Democratic Republic 
 Mr. Laohoua CHEUCHING 
Deputy Director General of 
Foreign Trade Policy 
Department 
Ministry of Industry and 
Commerce 
Phonexay Road  
(P.O. Box 4107),  
Vientiane - Lao People's 
Democratic Republic  Tel: +856 21 454 523 
Fax: +856 21 450 066 
E-mail: laohoua@yahoo.com 
 
Lao People's 
Democratic Republic  Mr. Virasack SOMPHONG 
Deputy Director General of Department of Economic 
Affairs 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs 23 Singha Road  Vientiane - Lao People's 
Democratic Republic  Tel: +856 21 414 040 
Fax: +856 21 415 932 E-mail: svirasac@yahoo.com 
 
Lao People's 
Democratic Republic 
 Mr. Santisouk 
PHOUNESAVATH 
Director of Multilateral Trade 
Division, Foreign Trade 
Policy Department  
Ministry of Industry and 
Commerce, Lao PDR  Tel: +856 207 414 607 
Fax: +856 202 222 4807  
E-mail: s.phounesavath@laoftpd.com 
 
 WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
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  WTO MEMBERS 
Lao People's 
Democratic Republic 
 Mr. Siriphonh PHYATHEP 
Deputy Director of UN Social 
Economic Affairs, 
Department of International Organization 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
23 Singha Road  Vientiane - Lao People's 
Democratic Republic  Tel: -  
Fax: - 
E-mail: siriphonh@mofa.gov.la 
 
Samoa H.E. Mr. Fonotoe Nuafesili 
Pierre LAUOFO   
Deputy Prime Minister  
Government of Samoa 
Ministry of Commerce, 
Industry and Labour 
5th Floor, Government 
Building FMFM II 
Apia - Samoa  Tel: +685 23 290/23 292 
Fax: +685 200 48 
E-mail: dpm@ipasifika.net 
Samoa Mrs. Nella LEVY   
Counsellor Embassy of Samoa, Brussels
 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
and Trade 
20 avenue de l'Orée,  Brussels - Belgium - Samoa  Tel: +32 2 660 84 54 
Fax: +32 2 675 03 36 E-mail: nella.levy@skynet.be 
Samoa Mr. Peter Ah Him 
MUAGUTUTAGATA   
Associate Minister 
Government of Samoa 
Ministry of Commerce, 
Industry and Labour 
4th Floor, Accident 
Compensation Building 
Apia - Samoa  Tel: + 685 232 900 123 92 
Fax: +685 200 48 
E-mail: abm@samoaonline.ws 
 
Tajikistan H.E. Mr. Saidrahmon 
NAZRIEV   
Deputy Minister Ministry of Economic 
Development and Trade 
37 Bokhtar Street,  734002 Dushanbe - Tajikistan  Tel: +992 37 227 34 34/221 46 23 
/227 51 32 
E-mail: snazriev@mail.ru; medtrt@mail.ru; 
parviz_emomov@yahoo.com 
Ukraine Mrs. Svitlana ZAITSEVA 
Head of WTO Division 
Ministry of Economic 
Development and Trade of 
Ukraine 
28, Druzhby Narodiv Street 
Kyiv, 01133, Ukraine  Tel: +38 044 596 68 54 
Fax: +38 044 286 03 20 
E-mail: zaitseva@me.gov.ua; 
zaitsevas@yahoo.com 
 
 WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
- 11 - 
 
   
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 
IMF Mr. Alexei KIREYEV   
Senior Economist 
(Former IMF Representative 
to the WTO) 
International Monetary Fund 
700 19th Street, N.W.,  
Washington, DC 20431 
United States  Tel: +1 202 623 84 98 
Fax: 
e-mail: akireyev@imf.org; 
akireyev@hotmail.com 
ITC Mr. Xuejun JIANG 
Chief Office of Asia and Pacific 
International Trade Centre 
54-56, rue de Montbrillant 1202 Geneva, Switzerland  Tel: +41 22 730 0447 
Fax: +41 22 730 08 11 E-mail: jiang@intracen.org 
World Bank, Lao Office Mr. Richard RECORD   
Senior Economist 
Southeast Asia PREM Sector 
Unit 
World Bank Office 
Vientiane - Lao People's 
Democratic Republic  Tel: +856 21 266 247 
Mob: +856 20 2222 1328 
Fax: - 
E-mail: rrecord@worldbank.org 
World Bank Mr. Julian Latimer CLARKE  
Senior Trade Economist The World Bank 
Phnom Penh Office 
113 Norodom Blvd. Phnom Penh, Cambodia  Tel: +855 12 943282 
Fax: +855 23 217 304 E-mail: jclarke1@worldbank.org 
   
SPEAKERS – TRADE ECONOMISTS 
European University 
Institute Mr. Bernard HOEKMAN   
Director, Global Economics 
Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies 
European University 
Institute Via Boccaccio 121,  Firenze 50014 - Italy  Tel: +39 055 4685 497 
Fax: +39 055 4685 548 
E-mail: bernard.hoekman@eui.eu  
Carnegie Endowment for 
International Peace Mr. Uri DADUSH   
Senior Associate and 
Director 
of the "International 
Economics Program"  
Carnegie Endowment for 
International Peace 
1779 Massachusetts 
Avenue, NW, Washington,  
DC 20036-2103 - United 
States  Tel: - 
Fax: - 
E-mail: udadush@ceip.org  
Carnegie Mellon 
University Australia Mr. Emil P. BOLONGAITA   
Deputy Executive Director & 
Distinguished Service 
Professor Carnegie Mellon University 
Australia 
220 Victoria Square,  Adelaide 5000 - Australia  Tel: +61 8 8110 9905 
Fax: +61 8 8211 9444 
E-mail: emilb@cmu.edu.au WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
- 12 - 
 
   
WTO SECRETARIAT 
WTO Mr. Chiedu OSAKWE   
Director 
Accessions Division World Trade Organization 
154 rue de Lausanne,  
CH-1211 Geneva 21 - Switzerland  Tel: +41 22 739 52 50 
Fax:  
E-mail: chiedu.osakwe@wto.org 
WTO Mrs. Maika OSHIKAWA   
Head of Asia/Pacifc Desk 
ITTC Division 
World Trade Organization 
154 rue de Lausanne,  
CH-1211 Geneva 21 - 
Switzerland  Tel: +41 22 739 56 43 
Fax: 
E-mail: 
maika.oshikawa@wto.org 
WTO Mr. Dayong YU   
Counsellor Accessions Division 
World Trade Organization 
154 rue de Lausanne,  1211 Geneva 21 - Switzerland  Tel: +41 22 739 65 72 
Fax: E-mail: dayong.yu@wto.org 
WTO Mrs. Nadia FERDI DEMIERRE 
Secretary/Admin. Support 
Accessions Division 
World Trade Organization 
154 rue de Lausanne,  
1211 Geneva 21 - Switzerland  Tel: +41 22 739 65 60 
Fax: 
E-mail: nadia.ferdi@wto.org; 
accessions@wto.org 
 
  WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
- 13 - 
 
  ANNEX 2: PROGRAMME  
  
  
 
 
  
SECOND CHINA ROUND TABLE ON WTO ACCESSIONS 
 
THE FUTURE OF THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM:  
PERSPECTIVES OF LDCS AND ARTICLE XII MEMBERS 
 
"…SAFEGUARDING AND STRENGTHENING 
THE RULES-BASED MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM…" 
Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, 15 October - 18 October 2013  
Programme
1© 
 
"Lao PDR is convinced that joining the WTO is  not an end in itself, but the beginning of 
the road to lead our economy into full integr ation into the Multilateral Trading System." 
(Statement at the 10th meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Lao PDR) 
 
- H.E. Dr. Nam Viyaketh, Minister of  Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR 
 
"China urges WTO Members to resist trade pr otectionism and maintain an open and fair 
multilateral trading system, dr iven by the recovery of the global economy in the 
backdrop of the current global economic downturn." (Letter to Director-General Roberto Azevêdo.) 
 
- H.E. Mr. Gao Hucheng, Minister of Commerce of China 
 
 
  The "Second China Round Table on WTO Accessions" will take place from 15 to 
18 October 2013, in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR.  The theme is "the Future of the 
Multilateral Trading System: Perspectives of LDCs and Article XII Members".  This Round 
Table is sponsored by the Government of Ch ina, hosted by the Government of Lao PDR, 
and organized by the WTO Secretariat, as part  of the agreed activities in the China/WTO 
MOU
2.   
 
                                               
1 Final Programme, presentations and Guidelines for Pa rticipants are posted on the Second China Round 
Table webpage: http://www.wto.org/english/th ewto_e/acc_e/acc_ta_e.htm . 
2 In July 2011, the Government of the People's  Republic of China signed a Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) with the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the "China's LDCs and Accessions 
Programme ("The China Programme").  This MOU was renewed for 2012-2013.  The China Programme created 
a fund for an internship programme and an annual Round Table on Accessions to build capacity and technical 
skills in trade policy, including on accession negoti ations, for Least-Developed Countries and non-LDCs.  WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
- 14 - 
 
   
14 OCTOBER 2013 
All Day Registration upon arrival at Luang Prabang View  Hotel (Phuo Meo, Lao-Thai Friendship Road, 
Luang Prabang Laos, Tel No. +856 71 260 560 Fax No .: +856 71 260 234 mailto:booking@lpbview.com) 
DAY ONE - 15 OCTOBER 2013 
08:30 Group Photograph of the WTO Director-General with Second China Round Table Participants 
08:45  Opening Ceremony  
- Welcome remarks by H.E. Dr. Nam Viyaketh, Mi nister of Industry an d Commerce, Lao PDR   
- Remarks by Mr. Yu Jianhua, Deputy China Internatio nal Trade Representative (Vice Minister), China   
- Opening remarks by Mr. Chiedu Osakwe, Director of the Accessions Division, WTO 
09:45  Coffee Break 
10:00 Session 1: Trade Policy Developments in the Global Economy  
There have been significant trade policy developments  underway in the global economy.  These include 
the relatively stronger performance of emerging economies, the proliferation of FTAs and liberalization 
activities in mega regionalization trends.  The 2008 ec onomic and financial crisis have had far-reaching 
and continuing effects.  International trade patterns are rapidly changing.  Trad e policies of individual 
countries are undergoing adjustment and change.  Para doxically, in the WTO, lack of progress in the DDA 
Multilateral Negotiations contrasts with significant pr ogress in WTO accession negotiations and outcomes.  
This session will start with a description of the econom ic transformation in the past decade, and provide an 
analysis of contemporary trade po licy developments interacting with changes in the global economy, 
including the recurrence and emergence of plurilateral  negotiations; the surge in preferential/regional 
trade agreements; industrial  policies; global production/value chains; food security and natural resources 
policies.  A description of these issues and associated  trends will set-up the basis for this Round Table.  
 
Moderator:   Hon. Fonotoe Nuafesili Pierre La uofo, Deputy Prime Minister, Samoa  
 
Speakers:  
Mr. Uri Dadush, Senior Associate and Director of the "International Economics Program", Carnegie 
Endowment for Intern ational Peace   
Mr. Bernard Hoekman, Director, Robert Schuman Cent re for Advanced Studies, European University 
Institute  
Open Discussion:   All participants   
13:00  Lunch  
 WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
- 15 - 
 
  14:00  Session 2: Contributions of WTO Accessio ns to the Multilateral Trading System 
Since the WTO was established in 1995, 31 Countries or Separate Customs Territories have acceded to the 
WTO, pursuant to Article XII of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO.  These Article XII 
Members account for about one fifth or 19.5% of the entirety of 159 WTO Membership.  Their trade 
volume corresponds to 16% of total world trade.  Th e results of WTO accessions, in deposited Packages, 
have brought direct econ omic benefits to WTO Members and demonstrable benefits to Article XII 
Members, as shown in the Director-G eneral's Annual Reports on Accessions3.  The results from the 
accession process have contributed to the expansion of the coverage of the rules-based economy to 
97.1%.   Fundamentally, WTO accession is now widely accepted as an instrument to support the domestic 
reform process in Acceding Governments.  In this session, the speakers will summarize the achievements 
of WTO accessions; identify the areas where WTO ru les have been strengthened through the accession 
process; and discuss the implications of WTO accessions to individual economies. 
 
Moderator:    
H.E. Dr. Nam Viyaketh, Minister of  Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR  
Speakers: 
Safeguarding and Strengthening the Rules-Based World Trading System:  
 - Overview of the Concluded and Ongoing WTO Accessions 
 - Pattern and Range of Specific Co mmitments by Article XII WTO Members 
 - Rule-making Process through WTO Accessions 
Mr. Chiedu Osakwe, Director, Accessions Division, WTO  
How LDCs and Low-income Economies Can Benefit from WTO Accessions 
H.E. Mrs. Khemmani Pholsena, Vice Minist er of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR  
H.E. Mr. Saidrahmon Nazriev, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Tajikistan  
Non-LDC Perspectives: Negotiatin g Experiences: Challenges, Opportunities and Post-Accession 
Mrs. Svitlana Zaitseva, Head of WTO Division, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Ukraine 
WTO Accession from Members' Perspective: Safeguarding the Rules-based System 
Mr. Thiago Fernandes, Diplomat, Market Access Di vision, Ministry of Exte rnal Affairs, Brazil  
Commentator : 
Mr. Bernard Hoekman, Director, Robert Schuman Cent re for Advanced Studies, European University 
Institute  
Open Discussion:   All participants   
 
17:00 End of Day One 
18:00  Official Dinner Co-hosted by H. E. Dr. Nam Viyaketh, Minister of Industry and Commerce, and 
H.E. Dr. Khampeng Saysompheng, Governor of Luang Prabang Province at Sky Lounge, 
Luang Prabang View Hotel  
Attendance:  All participants 
                                               
3 DG's 2012 Annual Report on WTO Accessions, Section V, Pages 12-19. WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
- 16 - 
 
  DAY TWO - 16 OCTOBER 2013 
09:00 Session 3: The Macroeconomic Implications of WTO Accessions   
This session will build on a recent study on the effects of WTO accessions by Mr. Alexei Kireyev, 
Senior Economist at the IMF.  Mr. Kireyev's empirical research provides a thorou gh economic analysis of  
post-accession effects:  WTO accessions lead to grea ter openness of economies and better allocation of 
limited resources, which in itself improves economic e fficiency.  Greater efficiency in resource allocation 
leads to higher growth, competition reduces costs an d prices, and market access increases consumption.  
So consumers generally gain.  At the same time, certain producers may be affected by increased 
competition and will face the need for adjustment, in particular in the short run, which in the long term will still lead to improved efficiency.  Public policies should be targeted to help countries cope with the adjustment costs by way of providing targeted support  to the most vulnerable, while rebalancing the tax 
system from external to domestic ta xes to preserve fiscal revenue.  
 Moderator:    
Mr. Bernard Hoekman, Director, Robert Schuman Cent re for Advanced Studies, European University 
Institute  
Speaker: 
Mr. Alexei Kireyev, Senior Economist and Former Representative to the WTO, IMF 
Commentators : 
H.E. Mr. Sorasak Pan, Secretary of Stat e, Ministry of Commerce, Cambodia  
Mrs. Svitlana Zaitseva, Head of WTO Division, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Ukraine   Open Discussion:   All participants   
13:00  Lunch 
14:00 Session 4: The Future of the Multilateral Trading System 
In this session, a summary report will be provided on the "Conference on the Future of the World Trading 
System: Asian Perspectives" that took place at the WTO, in Geneva, on 11-12 March 2013.4  T h e  
Conference was organized by the Asian Development Ba nk Institute (ADBI) and the Centre for Trade and 
Economic Integration (CTEI) at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva in collaboration with the WTO.  
Although labelled as "Asian Perspectives", this important Conference  integrated many valuable and diverse 
ideas and recommendations for further strengthening and reforming the Multilateral Trading System to 
address the current dynamics in the global economy.  The Report will provide a basis for participants to 
formulate their own perspectiv es on the future of the Mu ltilateral Trading System.  
Based on this Report, participants w ill review questions, pertinent to th e reform of the Multilateral Trading 
System.  Discussions will revolve around the implications of global/regional value chains; effects and management of preferential/regional trade; trade and investment questions;  the engagement of the 
private sector; and the impo rtance of a rules-based,  transparent, and non-di scriminatory Multilateral 
T r a d i n g  S y s t e m .   W h a t  s h o u l d  b e  t h e  r o l e  o f  3 1  Article XII Members, who have undertaken specific 
commitments in acceding to the WTO, in  reforming and strengthening the WTO?  
Moderator:    
Mr. Uri Dadush, Senior Associate and Director of the "International Economics Program", Carnegie 
Endowment for Intern ational Peace   
Speakers: 
Report on ADBI/CTEI Conference "The Future of the World Trading System: Asian 
Perspectives"  
Ms. Maika Oshikawa, Chief, Asia and Pacific Desk, ITTC, WTO  
China's Perspectives on Doha Round and the Future of the WTO 
Mr. Lu Xiankun, Counsellor, Head of Division, Permanent Mission of China to the WTO, China  
 
                                               
4 Ms. Maika Oshikawa will report on the outcomes of this conference. WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
- 17 - 
 
  New Factors Shaping International Trade: Global/Regional Value Chains, Preferential Trade, 
Changing Patterns of FDI 
Mr. Julian Latimer Clarke, Senior Economist, The World Bank   The Future of Asia: Meeting the Challenges of Regional Cooperation and Integration Mr. Emil P. Bolongaita, Deputy Executive Director and Distinguished Service Professor of Public Policy and 
Management, Carnegie Mellon  University Australia  
 The Relevance of the Multilateral Trading System and Reform Perspectives Mr. Chiedu Osakwe, Director, Accessions Division, WTO   Commentator : 
Mr. Uri Dadush, Senior Associate and Director of the "International Economics Program", Carnegie 
Endowment for Inte rnational Peace  
 Open Discussion:   All participants   
 
17:00 End of Day Two 
 WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
- 18 - 
 
  DAY THREE - 17 OCTOBER 2013 
09:00 Session 5: Effective Participation of Article XII Members and Acceding Governments 
The effective participation of its membership is essential for the WTO and for Multilateral Trading System. 
For Article XII Members and acceding governments, the most important objectives for becoming a WTO Member is to participate in the process of implementing the existing rules and improving the system through the development of new rules.  In this sessio n, participants will explore the roles of Article XII 
Members, LDCs and acceding governme nts in the Multilateral Trading System.  The perspectives and views 
to be expressed will help all participants to better  understand the spectrum of priorities of different 
Member Groupings and individual Members, and contribute to ongoing thinking of priorities and strategies for their participation.  
Moderator:    
Mr. Chiedu Osakwe, Director, Accessions Division, WTO  
Speakers: 
Priorities for LDC Acceding Governments 
Mr. Chhime Tshering, Chief Trade Officer, Ministry of Economic  Affairs, Bhutan  
H.E. Mr. Axel M. Addy, Minist er of Commerce, Liberia   
Participation of Article XII Members - Approaches and Experiences   
LDCs and Low-income Economies:  H.E. Mr. Yong Chanthalangsy, Former Ambassador an d Permanent Representative to the WTO, Lao PDR  
H.E. Mr. Saidrahmon Nazriev, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Tajikistan  Mr. Nagib Hamim,  Economic Attaché, Permanent Miss ion of the Republic of Yemen to the WTO, Yemen 
Non-LDC Economies:  
Mrs. Svitlana Zaitseva, Head of WTO Division, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Ukraine   
Priorities for LDC Article XII Members 
H.E. Mr. Sorasak Pan, Secretary of Stat e, Ministry of Commerce, Cambodia  
Ms. Nella Levy, Counsellor, Embass y of Samoa in Brussels, Samoa  
Package for MC9 H.E. Mr. Edi Yusup, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative to the WTO, Indonesia   
 Commentator : 
Mr. Hong Xiaodong, Deputy Director-General, WT O Department, Ministry of Commerce of China  
Open Discussion:   All participants   
13:00  Lunch WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
- 19 - 
 
  14:00 Session 6: Technical Assistance for the LDC Acceding Governments 
Capacity-building is essential for improving the knowle dge base for accession nego tiations and associated 
reforms.  Knowledge of the rules-based Multilateral Trading System and the application of WTO principles 
and agreements to the national lega l framework are prior conditions fo r WTO membership.  Over the past 
years, the Accessions Division of the WTO Secretariat has developed a Toolbox to assist acceding 
governments in navigating their ac cession process. Complementary assistance has been made available 
from other international organizations and sources, such  as technical assistance programmes provided by 
the ITC, UNCTAD, World Bank, IMF, an d ADB (CAREC), as well as individu al Members.  Better coordination 
is required.  Timely delivery and stronger partnership are of urgent necessity.  This session will discuss 
both the demand and supply sides of technical assist ance to explore a strategy for addressing the real 
demand of LDCs in achieving their accession goals.  The session will also explore strategies for intensifying 
outreach efforts with both domestic stakeholders an d external partners so as  to ensure a smoother and 
faster accession process.   Issues to be reviewed and discussed include: 
 technical assistance and capacity-building programmes by international agencies; 
 technical assistance by individual Members; 
 "Geneva Week" platform;  
 WTO Reference Centre;  
 external and domestic outreach in supporting acceding LDCs; 
 visits of Chairpersons to acceding LDCs;  
 the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF); and 
 Accessions Toolbox: ACDB; Accessions Newsletter; Ac cessions FAQ; Accession Fact Sheet; Legislation 
Database; AIMS (Accession Inform ation Management System) Database ; Register of Bilateral Market 
Access Agreements; and DG's Annual Report on Accessions. 
Moderator:    
Mr. Lu Xiankun, Counsellor, Head of Division, Pe rmanent Mission of China to the WTO, China   
Speakers: 
Ms. Maika Oshikawa, Chief, Asia and Pacific Desk, ITTC, WTO  
Mr. Richard Record, Senior Economist,  World Bank Office in Vientiane  
Mr. Jiang Xuejun, Chief, Office of Asia an d the Pacific, International Trade Centre  
Mr. Chiedu Osakwe, Director, Accessions Division, WTO  
Presentation:  Accessions Toolbox 
- Mr. Dayong Yu, Counsellor, Accessions Division, WTO  
Presentation:  Preparation of Accession Documents and Draft Accession Packages 
- Mrs. Nadia Ferdi Demierre, Accessions Division, WTO  
Commentators : 
Mr. Chhime Tshering, Chief Trade Officer, Ministry of Economic  Affairs, Bhutan  
H.E. Mr. Demóstene Vasconcelos Pires Dos Santos, Mini ster of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Sao Tome 
and Principe  
Mr. Nagib A. Hamim, Economic Attaché (WTO Affairs), Permanent Mission of Yemen to the WTO, Yemen 
Open Discussion:   All participants   
16:30  Closing Session:  
- Remarks by Mr. Chiedu Osakwe, Director, Accessions Division, WTO  
- Remarks by Mr. Hong Xiaodong, Deputy Director -General, WTO Department, Ministry of Commerce, 
China  
- Closing of Round Table by H.E. Mrs. Khemmani Ph olsena, Vice Minister of  Industry and Commerce, 
Lao PDR   
17:00 End of Day 3 WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
- 20 - 
 
  DAY FOUR - 18 OCTOBER 2013 
 Visit (Optional), Detail to be communicated by the Government of Lao PDR 
 
 
  
World Bank Display Booth on Aid-for-Trade at the Second China Round Table in 
Luang Prabang 
 The World Bank is a leading partner on trade and integration in Lao PDR, providing financing and 
knowledge partnerships in support of the country's aid-for-trade program.  This includes financing 
of the Customs and Trade Facilitation Projec t - a US$ 12.5m program of work led by the 
Lao Customs Department (Ministry of Finance) to automate and modernize customs procedures; 
and the Second Trade Development Facility - a US$ 14 million multi donor program, led by the 
Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and co-finance d by Australia, the European Union, Germany, 
Ireland, the United States and the World Bank aiming to improve competitiveness and regional 
integration.  A selection of materials, publications and briefs from the World Bank on trade-related 
technical assistance, customs and border management, trade policy and export competitiveness 
will be made available for conference participants. WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
- 21 - 
 
  PARTICIPANTS 
Chief Negotiators of Participating LDC Acceding Governments: 
Bhutan, Liberia, Sao Tome and Principe and Yemen 
Representatives of Article XII LDC Members:  
Cambodia, Lao PDR and Samoa Representatives of Article XII Non-LDC Members:  
China, Tajikistan and Ukraine  Representatives of Other Members:  
Brazil and Indonesia 
 
Representatives of International Organizations:   
International Trade Centre, International Monetary Fund and World Bank 
External Speakers 
- Mr. Uri Dadush, Senior Associate and Director of th e "International Economics Program" at the Carnegie 
Endowment for International Peace 
- Mr. Bernard Hoekman, Director, Robert Schuman Cent re for Advanced Studies, European University 
Institute  
- Mr. Emil P. Bolongaita, Deputy Executive Director and Distinguished Service Professor of Public Policy and 
Management, Carnegie Mell on University Australia 
 
Representatives of the WTO: 
- Mr. Chiedu Osakwe, Director, Accessions Division; - Ms. Maika Oshikawa, Chief, Asia and Pacific Desk, ITTC; - Mr. Dayong Yu, Counsellor, Accessions Division; and - Mrs. Nadia Ferdi Demierre, Accessions Division.    WT/ACC/20 • WT/GC/153 • WT/MIN(13)/2 
 
- 22 - 
 
  BACKGROUND DOCUMENTATION  
This "Second China Round Table on WTO Accessions" is linked with the "Global Seminar on WTO Accessions", 
scheduled for 23-27 September 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland.  The background documentation for these activities includes: 
 
- A Handbook on Accession to the WTO; - Director-General's Annual Reports on Accessions, 2009-2012 (WT/ACC/13, 14, 15 and 19); - WTO Accession Commitments Data base (http://acdb.wto.org/); 
- The 2002/2012 Guidelines on LDCs' accessions (WT/L/508 and its Addendum 1); - Procedures for Negotiations under Article XII - Note by the Secretariat (WT/ACC/1); 
- WTO Accession-related FAQs; - Pattern and Range of Specific Comm itments by Article XII Members;  
- Fact Sheet on WTO Accessions: Least-developed countries - Range of Specific Commitments Undertaken by 
 Article XII LDC Members; and - Report of the First China Round Ta ble on WTO Accessions (WT/ACC/20). 
Additionally, specific contributions have been reques ted from resource persons and session leaders.  These 
contributions shall be circulated to participants at this Round Table. 
 The contributions and presentations from these two inter-link ed activities will be comp iled for publication in the 
forthcoming book entitled "The Present and Future  of the Rules-Based Multilateral Trading System - 
Contributions from WTO Accessions".  
WORKSHOP FOCAL POINTS 
Lao PDR: 
- H.E. Mr. Yong Chanthalangsy (Tel: + 41 22 798 2442 / Fax: + 41 22 798 2440 / email: 
ychanthalangsy@yahoo.fr) 
-  Mr. Santisouk Phounesavath (Tel: +85621 450065 / Fax: +85621 450066,  
Mobile phone: + 85620 77414607,  +85620 2222 480 / e-mail: santisoukben@gmail.com and/or 
s.phounesavath@laoftpd.com) 
WTO Secretariat:  
- Mr. Dayong Yu (Tel:  +41 22 739 6572 / Fax: +41 22 739 5690 / e-mail:  dayong.yu@wto.org) 
- Ms. Maika Oshikawa (Tel:  +41 22 739 5643 / Fax:  +41 22 739 5764 / e-mail:  maika.oshikawa@wto.org) - Ms. Anne Vittori (Tel:  +41 22 739 5119 / Fax: +41 22 739 5724 / e-mail:  anne.vittori@wto.org) - Mrs. Nadia Ferdi Demierre (Tel:  +41 22 739 6560 / Fax: +41 22 739 5690 / e-mail:  nadia.ferdi@wto.org) 
People's Republic of China:  
- Mr. Xiankun Lu (Tel:  +41 22 909 7690 / Fax: +41 22 909 7699 / e-mail:  luxiankun@mofcom.gov.cn)  
- Mr. Tianyu Mao (Tel: +41 22 909 7668 / Fax: +41 22 909 7699/7688 / email: maotianyu@mofcom.gov.cn)  - Mr. Bo Fu (Tel: +41 22 909 7629 / Fax: +41 22 909 7699/7688 / email: p_fu@hotmail.com) 
 
 
__________