The 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon from March 26 to 30. Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao led a Chinese delegation to the conference, with Ambassador Li Yongjie, Permanent Representative of China to the WTO, also in attendance.

Following intensive consultations, the conference delivered several concrete outcomes. First, a Joint Ministerial Declaration on the Investment Facilitation for Development  Agreement (IFDA) was issued, marking a significant step toward the implementation of the world’s first multilateral investment agreement. Second, the interim arrangements for the WTO Agreement on Electronic Commerce were adopted, which will effectively promote the more inclusive and sustainable development of digital trade. Third, ministerial decisions were adopted on issues including fisheries subsidies, small economies, and special and differential treatment provisions in the Agreements on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). In addition, the conference consolidated texts to be finalized, such as the work programmes on WTO reform and electronic commerce, into a Yaoundé package of agreements. WTO members agreed to launch follow-up consultations in Geneva as soon as possible with a view to reaching consensus as early as possible.

During the conference, the Chinese delegation fully implemented the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the third and fourth plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, and acted in accordance with the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important remarks on upholding the multilateral trading system and engaging fully and deeply in WTO reform. China upheld the banner of multilateralism, adhered to core WTO principles such as most-favoured-nation (MFN) treatment, and firmly safeguarded the shared interests of the Global South. The Chinese delegation fully participated in consultations on all agenda items, actively promoted dialogue, convergence, and consensus-building, proactively facilitated alignment among members’ positions, and worked diligently to bridge differences, which made significant contributions to the outcomes outlined above. China’s proactive and constructive role was highly commended by the host Cameroon, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and other participating members.

Against the backdrop of escalating global trade turbulence and the spread of unilateralism and protectionism, MC14 delivered some outcomes and made arrangements for consultations on outstanding issues, demonstrating the enduring value and resilience of the multilateral trading system. China will work together with other members to faithfully implement the conference outcomes, actively engage in follow-up negotiations on key outstanding issues, and promote a greater role for the WTO in safeguarding the stability of the international economic and trade order and improving global economic governance. (Released on March 30)