Trade, commerce officials from Asia-Pacific begin two-month course in Shanghai

Twenty-five trade and commerce officials, including some holding senior positions, from 15 Asia-Pacific members and observers of the World Trade Organization started taking a regional trade policy course in the Asia and Pacific region in Shanghai on Monday.

Jointly organized by the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics and the WTO, the eight-week long course will cover areas related to WTO agreements and regional trade policies. Lectures will be delivered by technical experts from various operational units of the WTO Secretariat as well as global and regional leading scholars.

Zhang Xiangchen, deputy director-general of the WTO, addressed the opening ceremony of the course. He said that the course is aimed primarily at developing and least developed WTO members and observers, and is an "intermediate" training course offered by the WTO Secretariat to help participants progress to a higher level of learning.

"I hope that all the participants will be actively involved in the course and discussions and jointly address the many challenges facing the global trading system through enhanced international cooperation and understanding," he said.

Han Yong, director-general of the Department of WTO Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, said that the current global challenges are prominent, and there lies an urgent need for the WTO to accelerate reform and promote the adjustment of international economic and trade rules to provide solutions.

"In this context, developing members must fully grasp the rules and improve their ability to apply and negotiate, so that the new generation of economic and trade rules can truly meet the interests and demands of the developing members as well," said Han.

He also said that China is willing to continue to share its experience with other developing members, provide more public goods that benefit developing members in the Asia-Pacific, and help developing members and the least developed countries train more talents who are familiar with the WTO rules system.

Suzzanne Ningiga, who has been working with the National Trade Office of Papua New Guinea for two years, is one of the participants in the course.

"I hope to learn more about the trade policies within the region and advance my understanding on WTO from the course," she said.