China commits USD 490,000 to support WTO accessions and least-developed countries

The Government of China has pledged USD 490,000 to the WTO's Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) and Accessions Programme (also known as the China Programme). The China Programme — initiated in July 2011 under the WTO’s Aid for Trade initiative — aims to enable LDCs to better integrate into the global economy by strengthening their participation in WTO activities and helping those not yet members join the organization.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao signed the renewal of the Programme's Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the eve of the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) to be held in Abu Dhabi on 26-29 February. 

The Government of China and the WTO review the contents and consider the extension of the MoU on an annual basis. The China Programme provides financing to support:

• WTO accessions internships
• WTO accessions round table meetings
• LDCs' participation in WTO meetings
• South-South Dialogue on LDCs and Development
• LDCs' Trade Policy Review follow-up workshops 
• LDCs' Experience Sharing Programme 

This has also contributed to facilitating the participation of LDC delegations in WTO ministerial conferences. 

More information can be found here.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: "I welcome this new contribution by China, which will contribute to facilitating the accession of LDCs to the WTO and to supporting their participation in the global economy. This important contribution once again demonstrates China's consistent  commitment to the objective of promoting LDCs' development and trade integration, as well as its solid support for the Aid for Trade initiative of the WTO." 

Minister Wang said: "Empathizing with the acceding countries, China has been taking every solid step possible to help the countries in need. The China Programme, initiated in 2011, funds internships and LDCs' participation in WTO sessions and holds activities, such as Trade Policy Review (TPR) follow-up workshops and South-South dialogues, to help LDCs and developing members prepare a talent pool familiar with WTO rules, strengthen policy coordination, and better integrate into the multilateral trading system. In the past dozen or so years, the China Programme has achieved a lot, helping eight LDCs join the WTO."

Since 2008, China has contributed US$ 8.89 million to assist developing members and observers, especially LDCs, to integrate into the multilateral trading system.