The CCP Central Committee Politburo conducted its eighth collective study on World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and WTO reform on the afternoon of September 27th. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CCP Central Committee, stressed that the WTO is an important pillar of multilateralism and an important arena for global economic governance. Carrying out necessary reforms of the WTO is the general consensus and general trend. From the high vantage point of better integrating the domestic and international situations and better integrating development and security, we should deeply understand the importance and urgency of participating in the reform of the WTO. With a more active historical commitment and creative spirit, we should fully participate in WTO reform and in the adjustment of international economic and trade rules, and use high-standard opening up to the outside to promote deep-level reform and high-quality development.
中共中央政治局9月27日下午就世界贸易组织规则与世界贸易组织改革进行第八次集体学习。中共中央总书记习近平在主持学习时强调，世界贸易组织是多边主义的重要支柱，是全球经济治理的重要舞台。对世界贸易组织进行必要改革是普遍共识、大势所趋。我们要从更好统筹国内国际两个大局、更好统筹发展和安全的高度，深刻认识参与世界贸易组织改革的重要性和紧迫性，以更加积极的历史担当和创造精神，全面参与世界贸易组织改革和国际经贸规则调整，以高水平对外开放促进深层次改革、高质量发展。
Gu Xueming, Director and Fellow of the Research Institute of the Ministry of Commerce, explained this issue and put forward suggestions for work. Comrades from the CCP Politburo listened carefully to the explanation and held a discussion.
商务部研究院院长、研究员顾学明就这个问题进行讲解，提出工作建议。中央政治局的同志认真听取了讲解，并进行了讨论。
After listening to the explanation and discussion, Xi Jinping delivered an important speech. He pointed out that joining the WTO was a milestone in China’s opening up to the outside. In the short span of 20-plus years, China has increased its total trade in goods 11-fold, becoming the world’s top goods-trading country and the principal trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions, and contributing on average nearly 30 percent to global economic growth per year. China’s relationship with the WTO has undergone historic changes. From a passive recipient, and then an active adapter, of international economic and trade rules, it has gradually grown to become an important participant. Facts show that accession to the WTO not only accelerated China’s own development, but also benefited the world. This major decision was entirely correct.
习近平在听取讲解和讨论后发表了重要讲话。他指出，加入世界贸易组织是我国对外开放的里程碑。短短20余年间，我国货物贸易总额增长了11倍，成为全球第一货物贸易大国、140多个国家和地区的主要贸易伙伴，对全球经济增长的年均贡献率近30%。我国同世界贸易组织的关系发生了历史性变化，从国际经贸规则的被动接受者和主动接轨者，逐步成长为重要参与者。事实表明，我国加入世界贸易组织不仅加快了自身发展，也惠及全球，这个重大决策是完全正确的。
Xi Jinping emphasized that in participating in WTO reform, it is necessary to firmly safeguard the authority and effectiveness of the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, and actively push for the resumption of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism’s normal operation. We should stand firmly on the right side of history, adhere to the general direction of economic globalization, advocate free trade and genuine multilateralism, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, oppose politicization, weaponization, and over-securitization of economic and trade issues, and push for building an open world economy. We should uphold the concept of a community of common human destiny and improve and refine China’s proposal for comprehensive and in-depth participation in WTO reform. We will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the vast number of developing countries, including China.
习近平强调，参与世界贸易组织改革，要坚定维护以世界贸易组织为核心的多边贸易体制权威性和有效性，积极推动恢复世界贸易组织争端解决机制正常运转。要坚定站在历史正确一边，坚持经济全球化大方向，旗帜鲜明主张自由贸易和真正的多边主义，反对单边主义、保护主义，反对将经贸问题政治化、武器化、泛安全化，推动建设开放型世界经济。要秉持人类命运共同体理念，完善细化全面深入参与世界贸易组织改革的中国方案。坚决维护包括我国在内的广大发展中国家的合法权益。
Xi Jinping pointed out that using opening up to promote reform and development is an important and effective tool for constantly making new achievements in China’s modernization and construction. This year marks the 45th anniversary of reform and opening up, and we should continue to do a good job in this grand chapter of our own reform, both widening the door of opening up and stabilizing the road of reform. We should take greater initiative in linking high-standard international economic and trade rules, steadily expand the rules, regulations, management, standards, and other institutional aspects of openness, accelerate the creation of new hubs of opening up to the outside, build a higher-standard new open economic system, and accelerate the construction of a new development pattern. We should actively create a first-rate business environment that is market-oriented, rule of law-based, and internationalized, and take promotion of accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement as an opportunity to further stimulate import potential, liberalize market access, and promote the in-depth development of multilateral and bilateral cooperation, thereby enhancing the country’s attractiveness to foreign investment. We should accelerate building China into a trading superpower by upgrading trade in goods, innovating in trade in services, and developing digital trade. Taking digitalization and greening as the direction, we should further enhance the international division of labor and move toward the middle and high end of the global value chain. At the same time, attention should be paid to safeguarding the country’s economic security.
习近平指出，以开放促改革、促发展是我国现代化建设不断取得新成就的重要法宝。今年是改革开放45周年，要继续做好自身改革这篇大文章，既扩大开放之门，又将改革之路走稳。要更加主动对接高标准国际经贸规则，稳步扩大规则、规制、管理、标准等制度型开放，加快打造对外开放新高地，建设更高水平开放型经济新体制，加快构建新发展格局。要积极营造市场化、法治化、国际化一流营商环境，以推动加入《全面与进步跨太平洋伙伴关系协定》和《数字经济伙伴关系协定》为契机，进一步激发进口潜力、放宽市场准入、推动多边和双边合作深入发展，增强对外资的吸引力。要加快建设贸易强国，升级货物贸易，创新服务贸易，发展数字贸易，以数字化绿色化为方向，进一步提升国际分工地位，向全球价值链中高端迈进。同时，要注意维护国家经济安全。
Xi emphasized the need to develop excellent skills in managing high-standard opening up to the outside. We should conduct surveys and research, summarize and make good use of the successful experience of China’s opening up and development, strengthen strategic, systematic, and forward-looking planning for opening up, and accurately grasp the new situation and new problems in the field of international trade and economic cooperation, making sure that we have a clear picture in our mind and a good plan in our hands, and that our actions are effective. We will increase our ability to safeguard China’s development rights and interests by applying international rules, and accelerate the building of a high-standard, professional, and externally open workforce with solid politics, strong skills, and excellent work style. Integrating openness and security, we will safeguard security and promote rights and interests in the midst of struggle, seek cooperation, and fight for win-win outcomes.
习近平强调，要练就驾驭高水平对外开放的过硬本领。大兴调查研究，总结用好我国开放发展的成功经验，加强对开放工作的战略性、系统性、前瞻性谋划，把国际经贸领域的新情况新问题摸准吃透，做到心中有数、手中有策、行动有力。提高运用国际规则维护我国发展权益能力，加快打造一支政治过硬、本领高强、作风优良的高水平专业化对外开放工作队伍。统筹开放与安全，在斗争中维护安全、增进权益，谋求合作、争取共赢。