On May 12, Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong delivered video remarks at the opening session of the 13th China Round Table on World Trade Organization (WTO) Accession was held in Muscat, Oman. Deputy Director-General of the WTO Zhang Xiangchen, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion Qais Al Yousef attended the opening session, alongside representatives from countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan and international organizations including the World Bank, UNCTAD and ITC.

Yan Dong noted that China has always been resolutely upholding, contributing to and building the multilateral trading system. China firmly upholds the WTO rules and international fairness and justice. China always supports developing countries, including Arab countries, in better integrating into the multilateral trading system and brings benefits to the world with high-standard opening up. China will continue to conduct south-south cooperation under the framework of the multilateral trading system, further implement the China Program and support the inclusive development of the multilateral trading system, inject more stability and certainty into global economic growth, and promote the building of a global development community with a shared future.

The China Program was launched by China and the WTO Secretariat in 2011. It aims to help developing countries, especially the least developed countries, integrate into the multilateral trading system. The China Round Table is an important part of the China Program. Focusing on accessions of Arab states and expanding public-private partnership, this China Round Table shares WTO accession best practices by the Arab region, discusses optimizing technical assistance and capacity building support, and helps Arab states speed up accessions and benefit from them.