The United Arab Emirates's Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi speaks during the opening ceremony of the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, Feb. 26, 2024. The four-day MC13 of WTO kicked off here on Monday in the capital of the United Arab Emirates with ministers of economy, trade, and development from various countries, as well as representatives from global economic and trade organizations attending the event. (WTO/Handout via Xinhua)
ABU DHABI, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The four-day 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) kicked off here on Monday in the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with ministers of economy, trade, and development from various countries, as well as representatives from global economic and trade organizations attending the event.
In his speech, UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi stated that the UAE is committed to supporting consensus on international economic issues, and becoming a trade hub that connects the world.
He emphasized that the UAE will continue to support the multilateral trading system overseen by the WTO, believing it to be a driver for sustainable growth of the global economy and beneficial to improving the lives of people around the world.
Wang Wentao, China's commerce minister, said in his speech that the WTO is an important pillar of multilateralism, and a significant stage for global economic governance.
The Chinese government firmly defends the multilateral trading system, and attaches great importance to the work of the WTO, Wang said, adding China will work with all parties to build an open world economy.
At the opening ceremony of the conference, the Comoros and Timor-Leste were officially admitted to the WTO, bringing the total number of its members to 166.
The ministerial conference is the highest decision-making body of the WTO, responsible for advancing negotiations on key issues, reviewing the daily work of the WTO, and planning the future development direction of the multilateral trading system. ■
Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala speaks during the opening ceremony of the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of WTO in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, Feb. 26, 2024. The four-day MC13 of WTO kicked off here on Monday in the capital of the United Arab Emirates with ministers of economy, trade, and development from various countries, as well as representatives from global economic and trade organizations attending the event. (WTO/Handout via Xinhua)
The United Arab Emirates's Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi speaks during the opening ceremony of the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, Feb. 26, 2024. The four-day MC13 of WTO kicked off here on Monday in the capital of the United Arab Emirates with ministers of economy, trade, and development from various countries, as well as representatives from global economic and trade organizations attending the event. (WTO/Handout via Xinhua)
