Xinhua finance Beijing April 5 (reporter yu jiaxin) the ministry of commerce spokesman gao feng said Thursday that special and differential treatment is a basic right enjoyed by the developing members of the world trade organization (WTO).

"This principle fully demonstrates the inclusiveness of the multilateral trading system," gao said at a regular press conference on Monday. All members have the right to choose their own foreign economic and trade policies, and the right of developing members to special and differential treatment must be guaranteed.

Recently, some developing countries have agreed to abandon special and differential treatment in WTO negotiations. In this regard, gao feng said that China's position on wto reform has been very clear. China is the largest developing country in the world. We will not shy away from our due international responsibilities. We are willing to undertake obligations in the wto that are commensurate with our own level of economic development and capacity.

"At the same time, we will work with other developing members to firmly uphold the basic rights of developing members and speak with one voice to safeguard our development interests." He said.

Gao expressed the hope that all wto members can respect each other, seek common ground while shelving differences, make joint efforts to promote the reform of the wto and maintain the development of the multilateral trading system along the right track.

"Special and differential treatment" is a special term of WTO. In negotiations, it often means that developing countries can make fewer commitments than developed countries in WTO negotiations, such as less tariff reduction in market access negotiations than developed countries.

Source: China financial information network