Peking University, Nov.4, 2011: WTO Round-Table Discussions, championed by Peking University (PKU) Law School, amid the eighth Beijing Forum, held its opening ceremony this afternoon in Diaoyutai State Guest Hotel.

The subject of this roundtable discussion was “WTO and the Development of China’s First Ten years in the WTO”, which illustrated the main theme of Beijing Forum 2011, “The Harmony of Civilizations and Prosperity for All -- Tradition and Modernity, Transition and Transformation”, by examining economy, trade and law across the world. Over the past 60 years, the WTO and its predecessor organization the GATT, have established a series of rules on international trade. These rules have been continually improving alongside social development of the world, which has provided the world with important safeguards for regulatory free trade, with effective ways for the settlement of international trade disputes and with a stable forum for negotiating agreements aimed at reducing obstacles to international trade. In the framework of the WTO, world economy and trade have been developing continuously and thus have promoted the harmony and prosperity of our world.

China shall cerebrate its first ten years in the WTO at the end of 2011. Over the last ten years, the world has undergone massive changes and world trade has seen great rises and great falls. However, it is the belief of this Forum that our world is continuing to develop and is becoming increasingly harmonious and peaceful. During these ten years, how have the economy, trade, and law of China changed? What are the experiences and lessons of China? How can China make a greater and more substantial contribution to the recovery, stability and development of the world economy? All these questions shall be topics that will be discussed by the participants of this roundtable.

Zhang Shouwen, president of PKU Law School, gave a welcome speech to all parties present including Ago Shin-ichi, current vice president of Kyushu University, Che Pizhao, professor of Tsinghua University’s Law School, and scholars, professors as well as government officials from various fields.

This round of WTO Round-Table Discussions is sponsored by International Economic Law Institute of Peking University, which was founded in 1981, a research think-tank in the areas of China policy, law and investment. PKU-IELI is also host to on-campus educational program initiatives focused on the investment industry. The research team at PKU-IELI is comprised of distinguished professors, scholars and industry professionals.

Reported by: Li Yang

Edited by: Arthars