Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
CHINESE Premier Li Qiang has told the United Nations General Assembly his country will not seek new special and differential treatment in current and future World Trade Organisation negotiations.
The declaration, made on September 23, 2025, underscores China’s role as a “responsible major developing country” and its commitment to reforming the multilateral trading system.
Since joining the WTO in 2001, China’s developing country status has afforded it certain advantages, such as more flexible liberalisation commitments and access to technical assistance. Premier Li acknowledged these benefits while highlighting China’s active participation in trade negotiations and its advocacy for global trade liberalisation.
“China remains the largest developing country in the world. China’s status and identity as a developing country remain unchanged. China has always been a member of the Global South and will always stand with developing countries.”
He outlined China’s future direction, saying the country would “unswervingly deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up and promote high-quality development.”
The Premier also pledged China’s continued deep engagement in WTO reform, with a focus on placing development at the centre of new international trade rules.
“China will firmly stand with other developing members and push the WTO to secure more development-oriented outcomes for a more fair and equitable global economic governance system,” he said.
This decision reinforces China’s commitment to multilateralism and positions it as a responsible leader, aiming to strengthen the WTO’s role in addressing contemporary global economic challenges.
