China acts as important contributor to multilateral trade system: WTO Director General

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), highly appreciated China's staunch position to uphold the multilateral trading system and promote a greater role of the WTO, highlighting that unilateralism can lead only to a lose-lose situation.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce released its latest report on the United States compliance of WTO rules, exposing the U.S. record as a big violator of the multilateral trading system.

When talking with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Iweala warned against the dangers of unilateralism, likening it to the disastrous policies of the 1930s that led to the Great Depression.

She highlighted the importance of global cooperation, especially for poorer nations.

"Unilateral approaches will lead to lose-lose. We've seen this movie before. In the early 1930s, we had that. So let's try not to do that. And the developing poor countries who are members of the WTO will not have the power to compete or to defend themselves against measures. So, we are really worried that they would be the losers in this, if we continue in this way," she said.

Iweala also lauded China for its strong support of the multilateral trade system, stressing its transparent engagement during trade policy reviews.

"China is a strong support of the multilateral trading system within the WTO and has continued to assure us of its support. Also, during the trade policy review, for the first time China brought a strong delegation that held a seminar here for the first time ever trying to explain China's policies to try to increase transparency. And I think that is a good thing. We need China to continue to do more and more of that. So that the questions asked by the rest of the membership can be answered," said Iweala.

China acts as important contributor to multilateral trade system: WTO Director General

A bell-ringing ceremony was held to mark the 93rd anniversary of the September 18 Incident in front of a monument at the September 18 Incident History Museum in Shenyang City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, on Wednesday.

It was on this fateful day in 1931 when Japanese troops blew up a section of the railway near Shenyang under their control, and accused Chinese troops of sabotage as a pretext for subsequent aggression against China.

Representatives of people from all walks of life struck a bell 14 times, symbolizing the 14 years of fight against Japanese aggressors by the Chinese people. The bell was cast with the words "Never forget national humiliation".

At 09:18, 14 cities in Liaoning sounded air raid sirens for three minutes, while vehicles came to a halt and honked their horns, and citizens were standing in silent tribute to mark this dark chapter in history. Ships and trains also sounded their sirens.

For years, China has kept marking the September 18 Incident.

The incident sparked Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The 1931-1945 Japanese invasion caused more than 35 million casualties among Chinese troops and civilians, accounting for one third of the WWII casualties worldwide.

During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, China fought with two-thirds of Japan's army, making a major contribution to the allied victory in WWII.

China holds ceremony to mark 93rd anniversary of Sept 18 Incident