| Statement by H. E. Amb. SUN Zhenyu at the General Council Meeting |
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| Wednesday,October 15,2008 Posted: 00:17 BJT(1617 GMT) |
| From:wto Article type:Original |
14 October, 2008
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to express our support to the statement made by India on behalf of G20, as well as the statements of the African Group and ACP countries. We thank the Director-General for his assessment on the current situation of the DDA Negotiations at the informal TNC Meeting last Friday as well as today. We welcome Ambassador Luzius Wasescha and Amb. Trevor Clarke as new chairmen of NAMA and TRIPS negotiations.
The world financial turbulence and its impact on world economy and trade are unprecedented in world history. We are facing with common challenges and have to find a solution through joint efforts. Perhaps more than ever before is the world looking upon the WTO for confidence in international cooperation. Failing to deliver in this house on the Development Round would mean a big blow not only to the multilateral trading system, but also to the credibility of global governance in general.
Against this background, Mr. Chairman, we feel the importance to make progress on modalities for agriculture and NAMA as soon as possible. We are glad to see that nobody has given up and that the right process led by Chairs of Ag and NAMA has restarted. In order to use our time and energy more efficiently, we have the following points to make:
First, Doha Round is a development round. We should bear in mind all the time that development is our priority and has to be placed at the centre of all negotiations. In order to deliver the development results, we need an open and transparent process, to ensure that all Members, particularly LDCs, SVEs, ACP countries and countries of the African Group, will participate fully in the negotiations and eventually get on board.
Second, the agreement on Ag and NAMA modalities is the central task in front of us. We do hope that the two Chairs could produce revised papers on draft modalities before the end of the year on the basis of the negotiations over the next few weeks. At the same time, we should also work on other issues, such as trade facilitation, rules and others, of the single undertaking. I would like to point out in particular that Draft Modality Texts as contained in Document TN/C/W/52 have been co-sponsored by 110 WTO Members, which request the inclusion of TRIPS related issues as part of the horizontal process. This issue should be dealt with properly.
Third, facing with the unprecedented financial turmoil, all Members should have the sense of urgency and show political will and flexibilities. The major developed Members, in particular, should take the lead.
Fourth, there should be no more artificial deadlines imposed on the process and all we need to do is to work hard through the multilateral process and try to make progress.
Mr. Chairman, China is ready to make its best efforts and work with other Members constructively towards concluding the round as soon as possible.
Thank you.
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