Seminar held on international trade

A seminar on the 40th anniversary of the founding of the China Association of International Trade and the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the WTO was held in Beijing on Sept 25.

Shi Guangsheng, former minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation and honorary president of CAIT, former deputy ministers Shen Jueren and Liu Xiangdong, Director Yang Zhengwei of the Commerce Ministry's Policy Research Office, as well as nearly 60 guests from the government, universities, scientific research institutions, associations of commerce and society and part-time vice-chairmen of the society were invited to attend the meeting.

More than 150 guests and member representatives from all over the country attended the meeting.

Chairman Jin Xu, Vice-Chairman Bian Zhenhu and Vice-Chairman Li Gang attended the meeting and presided over the opening ceremony, guest speeches and seminars.

Jin said it is necessary to take 40 years of establishment as a new starting point, carry forward the past, inherit and innovate. Furthermore, he proposed to unite all members and build more platforms so as to create more opportunities for dialogue between academia and industry and continue to explore the integration and innovation of theory and practice to provide governments and enterprises with more accurate and valuable decision-making opinions and suggestions. 

Cui Weijie, vice-president of Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, and Li Tie, president of the Jilin Tumen River Institute of International Cooperation, spoke on behalf of the establishment and member units of the CAIT.

The conference also issued plaques and certificates to outstanding member units and individuals with outstanding contributions.

In the guest speech session, Shi Guangsheng and Dr Zhao Hong, former chairman of the WTO Appellate Body, gave speeches.

Shi summarized the role of the CAIT through the establishment of four platforms. The first is for theoretical and practical exchanges. The second platform is to exchange experience and innovation. The third is to build a bridge between foreign trade and other fields. And the fourth platform is for analysis and discussion of current and future situations.