Former WTO judge hails dispute settlement system as organization's greatest function

A former World Trade Organization (WTO) judge has praised the WTO's dispute settlement system as its most successful function, emphasizing its crucial role in maintaining the rules-based multilateral trading system.

Zhang Yuejiao is the first Chinese national to serve as a member and chairman of the Appellate Body of the WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism during 2008-2016.

As the WTO marks its 30th anniversary, Zhang shared her positive assessment of the WTO's impact, in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).

"We are all happy with this moment, because it's very significant for international trade and for international rule of law, and for the standard of living of people increased for the last 30 years. We saw the development closely. And even when working in the WTO, we saw how hard people were working to achieve this great achievement," she said.

Zhang stressed that the dispute settlement system of the WTO is its most successful function and a key component of the organization's rule-based framework.

"The dispute settlement system of the WTO is the most successful function of the WTO. The dispute settlement is the rule of law in international trade. And for the enforcement of the implementation of the WTO obligations, rights, and the WTO-covered agreement to support the rule-based multilateral trading system is critical," Zhang said.

Meanwhile, Zhang said, China has been playing an important role since it joined the WTO, stressing the nation's dedicated adherence to international obligations, commitment to upholding international law, and respect for the rule of law in all fields.

"China is doing an excellent job in that field. China has implemented all decisions made by the DSB [Dispute Settlement Body] and even, for instance, in the case of the copyright issue, China's National People's Congress has modified and changed one provision – article four, in order to keep China's copyright law fully consistent with the WTO-covered agreement. So, no country else can do this. China is really observing its international obligations and respects public international law and respects the rule of law in all fields," she added.

Former WTO judge hails dispute settlement system as organization's greatest function

The frequent group visits led by Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang, to the mainland have contributed to fostering a warmer atmosphere in cross-Strait relations.

Ma led a group of youth from Taiwan visited Heilongjiang Province in the northwest and Sichuan Province in the southwest from December 18 to 26, marking his third group visit to the mainland in the past two years.

Ahead of the visit, a 94-year-old Anti-Japanese War veteran wrote a sincere letter after learning that Ma would visit the Exhibition Hall of Evidence of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese aggressor troops.

In the message, Wang Jitang, the veteran, expressed his support for Ma's commitment to the "1992 Consensus" and the advancement of peaceful cross-Strait relations.

"As a veteran of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the history I personally experienced is also a shared pain and struggle for compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are of a same family. We are like relatives. I hope that young friends in Taiwan, like Ma, will treat the mainland as their own home, visit often as if visiting relatives, and frequently engage with each other," Wang said.

Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, said he was deeply moved by Wang's sincere wish.

"History must never be forgotten. Through such on-site visits and study, we need to experience and appreciate how our forefathers sacrificed themselves to protect our homeland and defend our country," Hsiao said. When talking about the purpose of the current group visit, Ma emphasized the crucial importance of mutual exchanges between young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. He expressed the hope to build a bridge for peace between the two sides which transcends political challenges, and which conveys the shared desire of the people on both sides for communication.

Many people from the both sides of the Taiwan Strait agree that the more tense cross-Strait relations become, the more vital it is to sustain exchanges.

Ma Ying-jeou's frequent group visits to mainland enhance warmth in cross-Strait relations