Welcome to UIBE(对外经济贸易大学)

Mr. Singh delivered a speech on “the prospect of the Bali Ministerial Conference and multilateral trading system”. He pointed out that the world is undergoing great changes in terms of economic order and that with the rapid rise of developing countries, WTO negotiations have become more difficult since the WTO is no longer within the control of a few countries. The Bali Ministerial Conference this December marks a critical moment of the Doha Round, and decisions will be made on the ongoing early harvest negotiation. He introduced the content as well as the latest progress on the early harvest negotiation, expressing his cautious optimism towards the negotiation prospect and belief that the WTO members will reach a basic consensus on such issues as trade facilitation, differential treatment of developing countries, and food security. Furthermore, when it came to the multilateral trading system after the Bali Ministerial Conference, he held that the WTO is undergoing a challenge since many members have shifted their focus towards regional and bilateral FTA negotiation, leading to a decrease of support and attention to the WTO. Despite all these, he still firmly believes that due to the fact that the WTO is the world’s only open and global platform, countries will finally shift their focus back in the years ahead.

Mr. Mamdouh pointed out in his speech that the service industry plays a significant role for all countries, because not only can it create products and jobs, but can raise the efficiency of manufacturing and agricultural industry as well. The WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) aims at setting up a liberalized service and trade market, providing market access as well as national treatment. However, liberalization of services does not contradict regulatory policies of individual member countries at all. With regard to future trade and services negotiation, he held that it is imperative that the influence of global value chain be highly appreciated and that the change in the economic situation also requires a change of rules. It might be overly difficult to reach a trade service agreement that is embraced by all; however, plurilateral agreement will probably prove to be more feasible. At the end of his speech, he also expressed his high expectations for China’s future role in the WTO, and believed that China would be able to change the rules in years to come.

The speeches of the two guests received warm applause from the faculty and students present. Many of them raised their own questions, which were wonderfully answered. Professor Zhao Zhongxiu, Vice President of UIBE, hosted the lecture.
The president for China Society for World Trade Organization Studies---Sun Zhenyu, made the concluding remarks of the lecture. He sincerely appreciated the professionalism and splendid speeches of the guests and extended his wishes for more opportunities in order to facilitate the exchange between UIBE and the WTO.