Davos, Switzerland – China’s top trade envoy Li Chenggang used the platform of a high-level WTO mini-ministerial on January 22 to pledge active engagement in overhauling the organization. Presided over by Swiss President Guy Parmelin, the meeting brought together key players like the US, EU, and others, with WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in attendance.
In his address, Li lauded the WTO’s foundational tenets as the bedrock for steady global commerce expansion. With international trade buffeted by volatility, he argued for urgent reforms to enhance the body’s relevance. Practical steps, he urged, should focus on syncing the multilateral framework with contemporary challenges while preserving its clout in world economic steering.
Beijing’s credentials as a bulwark of multilateralism were front and center. Li voiced strong support for the upcoming 14th Ministerial Conference, pushing for breakthroughs in areas such as a comprehensive reform roadmap, embedding investment facilitation rules, easing tariffs on digital transmissions, and bolstering food security mechanisms.
‘China will remain actively involved in WTO reforms and work to extend their gains to every member,’ Li affirmed. This stance reflects China’s growing influence in global trade governance, especially as protectionist winds blow stronger elsewhere.
The Davos conclave highlighted fractures and opportunities within the WTO, but Li’s forward-looking rhetoric signals potential for progress. Analysts note that China’s proactive role could bridge divides between developed and developing nations, fostering agreements that sustain open markets amid rising uncertainties.