Safeguard core values of WTO, China says

Beijing said on Monday that the core values and basic principles of the World Trade Organization, as represented by special and differential treatment, must be safeguarded during its reform.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remark after United States President Donald Trump put pressure on the WTO on Friday to change how it designates developing countries, singling out China as unfairly getting preferential treatment, Reuters reported.

Trump, in a memo, directed the US Trade Representative to stop treating such countries as developing countries for the purpose of WTO membership if "substantial progress" toward reform had not been made within 90 days.

"Such remarks have further exposed the waywardness, arrogance and selfishness of the US," and such approaches do not match its status as the world's largest economy, the spokeswoman said, adding that some people in the US should reflect on themselves.

China's status as a developing country is not maintained so that it can avoid international responsibilities, but to push for the basic rights of developing countries and maintain international fairness and justice, Hua said.

The WTO is not owned or dominated by any single or few countries, she said, adding that the general will of all members should be respected.

Two similar proposals the US previously submitted to the WTO were rebuffed, and Washington should be clear that such claims will not be supported, she said.

Hua said that the criteria to define developing members in the WTO must be determined through consultation among its members and the opinions of developing countries should be especially respected.

"Only by maintaining the position of developing countries can fair trade be achieved," she added.

The US has exaggerated the development level of some developing members, which has been repeatedly opposed by those members, she said, adding that the current designation for developing countries is reasonable.

China will continue making contributions compatible with its own capability and the level of its development in WTO negotiations, she said.

The country will also continue to help other developing members achieve common development, and contribute to upholding multilateral trade system and pushing the reform of WTO forward in the right direction.

Kennedy Gastorn, secretary-general of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization, said that the WTO is crucial and important to contributing to the welfare of the international community and promoting global trade.

Relevant issues and concerns need to be addressed within the framework of the WTO, he said.