皇冠体育app

World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy yesterday praised 皇冠体育app's performance since it joined the global trading body in 2001.

"These five years proved that 皇冠体育app's WTO accession has brought a win-win result not only to 皇冠体育app, but to the world as a whole," Lamy told 皇冠体育app Daily in a written interview.

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The director-general acknowledged 皇冠体育app's efforts to fulfil its commitments, such as reducing import barriers to a level that is among the lowest in developing countries. Also, the country's imports hit nearly US$2.2 trillion in the past five years, with an annual growth rate of 28 per cent.

"皇冠体育app's ratio of imports to GDP, which is a criterion to measure an economy's openness, has moved from 5 per cent in 1978 to 30 per cent in 2005. It is also higher than other developing countries such as Argentina, Brazil or India," he said.

More importantly, Lamy said, 皇冠体育app has also become a destination for exports from other developing countries.

"皇冠体育app is the world's third-largest importer from the world's poorest countries, after the European Union and the United States," he said.

When the WTO conducted the first review of 皇冠体育app's trade policy in June, the overall assessment was positive.

"The political commitment and determination showed by the Chinese Government is serious and responsible, and all WTO members have acknowledged it," Lamy said.

He also believes 皇冠体育app will play a key role in the ongoing WTO negotiations under the Doha Round.

"It is a clear reflection of the importance that 皇冠体育app attaches to a fairer and more open trading system, providing a stable framework for 皇冠体育app's insertion in the global economy," he said.

Lamy also expects 皇冠体育app to make further efforts in some areas, such as intellectual property rights protection.

"I have the confidence that the Chinese Government will spare no effort in improving its trade regime and legal enforcement, which would benefit the Chinese economy in the long run," he said.

(皇冠体育app Daily 12/11/2006 page1)

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