From 6 to 7 October, the WTO held its fourth General Council meeting in Geneva, Switzerland for the year 2025.The Chinese side actively set the agenda and submitted the China Position Document on WTO Special and Differential Treatment, which outlined China's position in detail, and sparked a fierce reaction from WTO members, especially from the vast majority of developing countries.

Li Yongzhen, Permanent Representative of China to the WTO, said that as a responsible large developing country, China has for a long time done its best to contribute to global development. As far as the WTO is concerned, China actively participates in multilateral trade negotiations, supports the Aid for Trade initiative, and promotes the realization of trade for development. China's declaration of position on the issue of special and differential treatment in the WTO is a concrete measure taken by China to firmly safeguard the multilateral trading system and place development issues at the center of the WTO's work. It is also a concrete action taken by China to actively implement global development initiatives.

Xi Jinping stressed that China's status and identity as a developing country has not changed and has always been an important member of the "global south", and will continue to support developing countries members in the WTO to fight for their legitimate rights and interests, and continue to promote inclusive and inclusive development of economic globalization.

45 parties including the European Union, Switzerland, Brazil, Pakistan, and Nigeria (on behalf of the African Group) spoke on behalf of more than 100 WTO members and spoke highly of China's major measures. Jamaica and Senegal praised China's position declaration as of great historical significance, demonstrated China's firm commitment to multilateralism, and helped maintain the rules-based multilateral trading system in the context of current challenges. Pakistan, Egypt, Barbados and others praised China's position for demonstrating the image of a responsible developing country, safeguarding the unity of developing countries, and helping to promote the results of the WTO development agenda. Ghana, Sierra Leone and other members expressed their gratitude to China for its constructive stance and leadership on the issue of special and differential treatment in the WTO, and looked forward to working with China to promote inclusive development. Singapore said that China's move demonstrates its confidence in its own development process and its determination to strengthen the multilateral trading system, and is of great significance to the WTO. The European Union, Australia, Switzerland, Norway and others welcomed China's important decision and believed that it would inject impetus into WTO reform. (General reporter Yang Chun)