From June 26 to 28, the 9th Aid-for-Trade Global Review Conference was held in Geneva, Switzerland. Vice Minister of Commerce Li Fei joined the meeting as head of the Chinese delegation, and delivered a speech at the high-level plenary session on "Boosting Trade Opportunities of the Least Developed Countries" and the sub-session on "Aid for Trade: China's Practices in Food Security" hosted by China. Li Chenggang, Ambassador of China's Permanent Mission to the WTO, also attended the meeting.
Li Fei said that in his speech at the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, President Xi Jinping committed to continue to support the Aid for Trade initiative and renew contribution to the China Program. China has all along been practicing genuine multilateralism, promoting the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, and actively engaged in the Aid for Trade initiative. Within the framework of South-South cooperation, China has provided assistance to the least developed countries to the best of its ability, continuously expanded the coverage of zero tariff treatment, helped other developing members improve transportation and logistics conditions, and enhanced their capacity to participate in international trade. China will firmly support the multilateral trading system, safeguard the common interests of all developing members, including the least developed countries, help them achieve their economic and social development goals, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Li Fei said that China attaches great importance to food security. While making efforts to ensure its own food security, China has made important contributions to safeguarding global food security. China has actively carried out international cooperation in agriculture, helping other countries to modernize the agriculture sector by building infrastructure, spreading agricultural technology, sending agricultural experts, providing emergency food aid, agricultural inputs and training opportunities. China supports a shift of approach in the WTO agricultural negotiations, to one that can give full consideration to members' needs in agricultural development and food security, push for progress on the issues of sustainable agriculture and food security, and enhance the security, stability and resilience of agricultural supply chains.
On the side of the meeting, Li Fei held bilateral talks with WTO Director-General Iweala, Deputy Director-General Hill, and South African Ambassador to the WTO Qobo, and exchanged views on economic and trade issues of mutual concern.
(All information published on this website is authentic in Chinese. English is provided for reference only.)