FOR SALE:A Nepalese businessman selling products at the 15th China International Fair for Investment and Trade in Xiamen, China, on September 7 (PENG ZHANGQING)

China's role

As a major participant of international trade and an active force in trade system reform, China seeks a reasonable, fair and equitable international trade order, while strengthening cooperation with other developing countries.

China advocates reaching its goals through well-planned and efficient reform based on equality and harmony, instead of a revolutionary subversion. China insists the reform should be carried out under the principle of maintaining the positive parts and abandoning the negative parts of the traditional system.

A major reason for difficulties in the Doha Round is developed countries' long-term dominance over the multilateral trade system and decision-making for negotiation targets.

China's participation will change the traditional dynamic in the system, with more importance attached to protecting the interests of developing countries as well as less developed countries.

For instance, China is a member of the Group of 20 Developing Countries, which was established in August 2003 in the run-up to the Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun, Mexico. The bloc consists of developing nations from Asia, Africa and Latin America, including Brazil, India, Argentina, South Africa, Indonesia and Thailand. The group aims to safeguard the interests of developing nations, eliminate the distorted trade policies of developed countries, and urge developed countries to further open up markets and offer special treatments to developing countries. It has been a significant force in the Doha Round talks.

Also, China is an observer of the Group of 33, a bloc that includes Indonesia, Cuba, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Turkey. Member countries are committed to fighting for rules that will allow them to use special safeguard measures to protect domestic producers of agricultural products of strategic importance to their food security from the effects of subsidized food imports.

All in all, within the framework of the WTO, China tries to seek as many preferential treatments for developing countries in the international trade system as possible. Its efforts will help level the playing field for developed and developing countries alike.

China will play a more significant role in the new international trade system. As a leading trade power and a representative of developing countries, it has already pushed the international trade system toward profound adjustments. Also, it has promoted the development of a framework for multilateral trade cooperation.

More importantly, China will turn from a mere participant in the reform into an active coordinator. It will even be an important leader in certain areas. For instance, during the trade in services negotiations of the WTO, China was invited to talks of all levels, including various small-group meetings.