Macao, China Delegation Attends the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference

MACAU, April 1 - The 14^th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was held from 26 to 29 March in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon. Macao, China attended the meeting as a WTO member, with the delegation led by Mr. Yau Yun Wah, Director of Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT), accompanied by representatives from the Macao Economic and Trade Office to the WTO and the DSEDT. During the conference, the Macao, China delegation exchanged views with other members on the future direction of the multilateral trading system and actively participated in discussions and work regarding various WTO issues.

The four-day conference brought together nearly 2,000 trade officials, including more than 90 ministers. During the sessions, delegates focused on the challenges and opportunities facing the multilateral trading system and discussed the WTO's future work plan. Key topics included WTO reform, the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, and the incorporation of the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement into the WTO legal framework.

To strengthen exchanges with other WTO members, Mr. Yau made interventions during the breakout sessions on WTO reform. He proposed that reform should follow three basic principles: (i) to preserve such core values of the multilateral trading system as non-discrimination and openness; (ii) to safeguard the development interests of developing members; and (iii) to follow the practice of decision-making by consensus. Furthermore, during the plenary session, Macao, China expressed support for incorporating the IFD Agreement into the WTO legal framework to enhance the transparency and predictability of investment rules, thereby promoting the stability and development of the regional and global investment environment.

The WTO Ministerial Conference is held biennially and serves as the WTO’s highest decision-making body, with all members invited to attend. Macao, China will continue to adhere to the principles of openness and cooperation, actively participating in multilateral trade affairs, and firmly upholding the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core.