On February 21 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi communicated with Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Johannesburg.

Wang Yi said that as a founding member of the United Nations (U.N.) and a steadfast defender of the current international order, China pursues true multilateralism and firmly supports both the international system with the U.N. at its core and the free trade system with the WTO at its core. Despite the current prevalence of unilateralism and protectionism, the trend of economic globalization is irreversible. All parties should work together to promote trade liberalization and facilitation while accelerating global economic recovery. China will continue to support the Director-General in advancing WTO reform, listening to the voices of countries in the Global South, and keeping pace with the progressive trends of the times. China adheres to its position as a developing country, but it never shirks its international responsibilities. China will continue to fulfill its due obligations and demonstrate its responsibility as a major country.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that amid the chaos in the world, China has moved in the right direction, achieved the U.N. poverty reduction target ahead of schedule, advanced industrialization rapidly and made remarkable achievements in education. China's success has set an example and provided references for other developing countries. The WTO highly appreciates China's commitment to the principle of dialogue and consultation and to resolving trade disputes through multilateral mechanisms in a mature and rational manner. The WTO also hopes to continue receiving strong support from China in promoting WTO reform.