China calls for safeguarding multilateral trade system with WTO at its core: FM

(ECNS) -- China will continue to honor its commitments made at its accession to the WTO and work with the rest of the world to safeguard the multilateral trade system with the WTO at its core, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a press conference on Monday.

Over the past 30 years since its founding, the WTO has, through providing an open, stable and predictable institutional environment, ensured that global trade is conducted in an overall steady and orderly manner, and enhanced trade and economic cooperation between members, Guo said.

The WTO has supported developing economies in participating in and benefiting from economic globalization and made important contribution to improving the wellbeing of people of various countries and promoting sustainable development, he added.

The spokesperson noted that free trade is an essential condition for world economy to grow, saying that the ultimate goal of free trade is to achieve mutually beneficial result and common development.

“Engaging in protectionism and building ‘small yard, high fence’ seriously disrupts the global industrial and supply chains and harms the common and long-term interests of all countries,” he said.