On the afternoon of September 9, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held the eighth collective study on WTO rules and WTO reform. When presiding over the study, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, stressed that the WTO is an important pillar of multilateralism and an important stage for global economic governance. Necessary reform of the WTO is a general consensus and the trend of the times. From the high plane of better coordinating the overall situation at home and abroad, and better coordinating development and security, we should profoundly understand the importance and urgency of participating in the reform of the World Trade Organization, fully participate in the reform of the World Trade Organization and the adjustment of international economic and trade rules with a more active historical responsibility and creative spirit, and promote deep-level reform and high-quality development with high-level opening up.
Gu Xueming, president and researcher of the Research Institute of the Ministry of Commerce, explained this issue and put forward work suggestions. Comrades of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee listened carefully to the explanation and held discussions.
Xi Jinping made an important speech after listening to the explanation and discussion. He pointed out that China's accession to the World Trade Organization is a milestone in China's opening up to the outside world. In just over 20 years, China's total trade in goods has increased by 11 times, becoming the world's largest country in goods trading and a major trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions, contributing an average annual contribution rate of nearly 30% to global economic growth. China's relations with the WTO have undergone historic changes, gradually growing from a passive recipient and active receiver of international economic and trade rules to an important participant. Facts have shown that China's accession to the World Trade Organization has not only accelerated its own development, but also benefited the whole world, and this major policy decision is completely correct.
Xi Jinping stressed that to participate in the reform of the World Trade Organization, it is necessary to firmly safeguard the authority and effectiveness of the multilateral trading system with the WTO as the core, and actively promote the restoration of the normal operation of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism. We must firmly stand on the right side of history, adhere to the general direction of economic globalization, take a clear-cut stand in advocating free trade and true multilateralism, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, oppose politicization, weaponization and pan-securitization of economic and trade issues, and promote the construction of an open world economy. It is necessary to uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and improve and refine China's plan for comprehensively and deeply participating in the reform of the World Trade Organization. Resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, including China.
Xi Jinping pointed out that promoting reform and development with opening up is an important magic weapon for China's modernization to continuously achieve new achievements. This year marks the 45th anniversary of reform and opening up, and we must continue to do a good job in the big article of our own reform, not only expand the door of opening up, but also stabilize the road of reform. It is necessary to take more initiative to dock with high-standard international economic and trade rules, steadily expand the opening up of rules, regulations, management, standards and other systems, accelerate the creation of a new highland of opening up to the outside world, build a new system of a higher-level open economy, and accelerate the construction of a new development pattern. It is necessary to actively create a market-oriented, rule-of-law, and internationalized first-class business environment, and take the opportunity of promoting accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement to further stimulate import potential, relax market access, promote the in-depth development of multilateral and bilateral cooperation, and enhance the attractiveness of foreign investment. It is necessary to accelerate the construction of a strong trade country, upgrade trade in goods, innovate trade in services, develop digital trade, take digital greening as the direction, further enhance the status of international division of labor, and move towards the middle and high end of the global value chain. At the same time, attention should be paid to safeguarding national economic security.
Xi Jinping stressed that it is necessary to cultivate the excellent ability to control high-level opening up. Daxing should conduct investigation and study, sum up and make good use of China's successful experience in opening up and development, strengthen strategic, systematic, and forward-looking planning for opening up work, accurately understand the new situation and new problems in the field of international economy and trade, and ensure that we have a clear idea, a plan in hand, and effective action. Improve the ability to use international rules to safeguard China's development rights and interests, and accelerate the building of a high-level professional opening up work force with strong politics, strong skills and excellent work style. We should make overall plans for openness and security, safeguard security and enhance rights and interests in the struggle, and seek cooperation and win-win results.