On October 20, according to domestic media reports, our country has adjusted to Li's position.Our country has decided to remove Li's position as a permanent representative of the People's Republic of China in the World Trade Organization, as a special ambassador, as a permanent representative of the United Nations Office in Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland.
The timing of the adjustment is highly aligned with the pace of global economic and trade negotiations.It is only a few months from the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in March 2026 that issues such as investment facilitation agreements and e-commerce agreements have entered into the WTO legal framework.
At the press briefing in September, Li Chenggang made clear China's position: it will not seek new special and differential treatment in the current and future WTO negotiations. This statement is regarded as an important signal to promote the negotiations.
Withdrawing from business work in Geneva, he was able to more effectively coordinate domestic positions and reserve consensus for key meetings.
Behind the job adjustment is a clear logic of duty focus.
According to the approval of the Central Office, the core task of international trade negotiators is to coordinate major multi-bilateral negotiations, coordinate domestic positions and sign relevant documents.
Currently, the demand for Sino-US economic and trade communication is increasing. In August, the Ministry of Commerce confirmed that Li Chenggang would go to Washington to meet with relevant U.S. officials. In October, he just concluded the G20 Trade and Investment Ministers 'Meeting, during which he held intensive talks with representatives of many countries and the Director-General of the WTO.
After focusing on your new position, such high-priority negotiation and coordination work will be guaranteed more concentrated energy.
Li Yongzhen took over the post of representative to the WTO, forming a division of labor and cooperation pattern for multilateral affairs and core negotiations.
This arrangement allows professionals to do professional things, and Li Chenggang's accumulated experience in the past can be fully released.
In May, he led a delegation to attend the APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting to explain his position on issues such as artificial intelligence empowering trade facilitation; At the G20 meeting held in South Africa in October, he put forward the idea of dealing with unilateralism and eliminating green trade barriers. These experiences made him familiar with the negotiation logic of all parties.
The adjusted focus of work has been quickly implemented.
In addition to the planned interaction with the United States, he had previously presided over the 28th China-Canada Joint Economic and Trade Commission and communicated with Canada on bilateral economic and trade concerns.
In a press conference in September, he stressed that China's position as a member of the developing world will not change, its determination to defend the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries will not change, and its position to promote trade liberalization and facilitation will not change.
The complexity of the global economic and trade environment makes this adjustment more practical.
Unilateralism-induced trade frictions continue, and new challenges such as green trade barriers continue to emerge.
Xi Jinping's long-term practice on the multilateral stage has enabled him to understand both the demands of developing countries and the position of developed countries.
This balanced perspective has been fruitful at the G20 summit in October, and his proposal to “play their respective comparative advantages to support developing countries” has been included in the summary of the meeting, laying the foundation for subsequent negotiations.
From the early years of the Ministry of Foreign Economy and Trade anti-dumping investigation positions to today's core role in negotiations, Li Zheng Steel's career trajectory has always revolved around international trade rules and cooperation.
With this adjustment, decentralized business work has been removed, and professional competencies have been more accurately matched to core needs.As he focuses on promoting multilateral negotiations and collaboration with his successors in multilateral affairs, China’s participation in global economic and trade governance will be further improved, providing a stable momentum for an open world economy.
The timing of the adjustment is highly aligned with the pace of global economic and trade negotiations.It is only a few months from the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in March 2026 that issues such as investment facilitation agreements and e-commerce agreements have entered into the WTO legal framework.
At the press briefing in September, Li Chenggang made clear China's position: it will not seek new special and differential treatment in the current and future WTO negotiations. This statement is regarded as an important signal to promote the negotiations.
Withdrawing from business work in Geneva, he was able to more effectively coordinate domestic positions and reserve consensus for key meetings.
Behind the job adjustment is a clear logic of duty focus.
According to the approval of the Central Office, the core task of international trade negotiators is to coordinate major multi-bilateral negotiations, coordinate domestic positions and sign relevant documents.
Currently, the demand for Sino-US economic and trade communication is increasing. In August, the Ministry of Commerce confirmed that Li Chenggang would go to Washington to meet with relevant U.S. officials. In October, he just concluded the G20 Trade and Investment Ministers 'Meeting, during which he held intensive talks with representatives of many countries and the Director-General of the WTO.
After focusing on your new position, such high-priority negotiation and coordination work will be guaranteed more concentrated energy.
Li Yongzhen took over the post of representative to the WTO, forming a division of labor and cooperation pattern for multilateral affairs and core negotiations.
This arrangement allows professionals to do professional things, and Li Chenggang's accumulated experience in the past can be fully released.
In May, he led a delegation to attend the APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting to explain his position on issues such as artificial intelligence empowering trade facilitation; At the G20 meeting held in South Africa in October, he put forward the idea of dealing with unilateralism and eliminating green trade barriers. These experiences made him familiar with the negotiation logic of all parties.
The adjusted focus of work has been quickly implemented.
In addition to the planned interaction with the United States, he had previously presided over the 28th China-Canada Joint Economic and Trade Commission and communicated with Canada on bilateral economic and trade concerns.
In a press conference in September, he stressed that China's position as a member of the developing world will not change, its determination to defend the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries will not change, and its position to promote trade liberalization and facilitation will not change.
The complexity of the global economic and trade environment makes this adjustment more practical.
Unilateralism-induced trade frictions continue, and new challenges such as green trade barriers continue to emerge.
Xi Jinping's long-term practice on the multilateral stage has enabled him to understand both the demands of developing countries and the position of developed countries.
This balanced perspective has been fruitful at the G20 summit in October, and his proposal to “play their respective comparative advantages to support developing countries” has been included in the summary of the meeting, laying the foundation for subsequent negotiations.
From the early years of the Ministry of Foreign Economy and Trade anti-dumping investigation positions to today's core role in negotiations, Li Zheng Steel's career trajectory has always revolved around international trade rules and cooperation.
With this adjustment, decentralized business work has been removed, and professional competencies have been more accurately matched to core needs.As he focuses on promoting multilateral negotiations and collaboration with his successors in multilateral affairs, China’s participation in global economic and trade governance will be further improved, providing a stable momentum for an open world economy.