BEIJING, Feb.16 (Xinhua) – China congratulated Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala after her appointment on Monday as the new director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
“China has full confidence in the appointment of Ms. Okonjo-Iweala to the post of director general of the WTO,” the trade ministry said in a statement.
As the first woman and first African to head the WTO, Ms. Okonjo-Iweala has a long-standing commitment to poverty reduction in developing countries and to vaccine and healthcare work, and has rich experience in managing international organizations, the statement said, adding that his appointment meets everyone’s expectations.
Despite COVID-19 and the challenges posed to the multilateral trading system, China is fully confident in Ms. Okonjo-Iweala’s role as Managing Director, and hopes that the WTO, under her leadership, will resume normal functions as soon as possible and will play a greater role in anti-pandemic cooperation and economic recovery.
China also expects Ms. Okonjo-Iweala to help the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference achieve positive results, advance necessary WTO reforms, as well as maintain and strengthen the authority and effectiveness of the WTO. multilateral trading system, according to the document.
As a responsible large developing country, China will firmly support the multilateral trading system, take an active part in WTO reforms and support the work of the Director-General, to help the WTO to further contribute to the improving global governance and the well-being of people around the world, he adds.
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