On November 15th, the World Trade Organization (WTO) held a seminar on the launch of the World Trade Report 2023 at the Shanghai International Centre for Dispute Resolution (SICDR), with the theme of “Re-globalization: Creating a Secure, Inclusive and Sustainable Future”. President ChongQuan of the China WTO Research Association, President Yu Miaojie of Liaoning University, SUIBE President WangRongming and Victor Stolzenburg, Chief Coordinator of the WTO Economic Research and Statistics Division, attended the meeting. Former Vice Minister of Commerce Yi Xiaozhun, Vice President of the China Law Society Wang Qijiang, and DirectorRalphOssa, WTO Chief Economist attended the meeting via video link. The seminar was presided over by Zhang Lei, Director of the International Trade Governance Research Center, a think tank affiliated with SUIBE.
Wang Rongming pointed out that SUIBE has made significant contributions to China’s accession to GATT and WTO. Currently, it has established an integrated system for cultivating talents at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels, and is accelerating the building of a world-renowned and domestically leading university with distinctive features specializing in finance and economics. He said how to follow a path of green, low-carbon, and sustainable development in global economic and trade governance is an important topic worthy of in-depth exploration. Wang pointed out that it is important to steadfastly uphold the authority and effectiveness of the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, actively promote the restoration of the functioning of the WTO dispute resolution mechanism, and firmly stand on the side of free trade and true multilateralism and at the same time fight against unilateralism and protectionism, and advocate for the construction of an open world economy.
YiXiaozhun pointed out in his address that this year’s World Trade Report examines the role of global trade in addressing some of the most pressing challenges today, including maintaining peace and security, reducing poverty and inequality, and achieving sustainable economic development. The report discusses the benefits of re-globalization and the risks associated with the fragmentation of the multilateral trading system.
Victor Stolzenburg provided a detailed interpretation of the report based on its chapter structure, elaborating on the role of re-globalization in maintaining peace and security, reducing poverty and inequality, and promoting environmentally sustainable practices.
In the end, Zhang Lei delivered the closing remarks. He said that all parties should profoundly recognize the significance and urgency of participating in the reform of the WTO. With a stronger sense of historical responsibility and creativity, they should fully engage in the reform of the WTO and adjustments to international economic and trade rules. This involvement, characterized by a high level of openness, will promote profound reforms and high-quality development.
Translated by LengXinyi
