Thank you, Madam Chair.
As this is my first time of taking the floor today, I would like to start by expressing a warm welcome to new representatives, and bidding a fond farewell to old friends that are leaving us, such as the Ambassadors from Canada, Switzerland, Egypt and Korea.
The accession of Vanuatu has our full support, and we are glad to know that its domestic ratification process has now been completed and it is ready to accept the Protocol. We are equally happy to see that the Russian Federation will become the 156th Member of the WTO next month.
I would also like to thank the DG for his Summary Report on the work done since the MC8 (8th Ministerial Meeting of the WTO).
We share the view that while the global economic situation is getting worse, the threat of protectionism is becoming ever more real. Here at the WTO, we have to step up the work on keeping protectionism at bay, keeping markets open and facilitating trade flows.
In the process, we appreciate that it is very important to promote transparency and resist protectionist pressures. So, we should be strengthening the Trade Monitoring mechanism and encouraging Members to keep up to date with their notification obligations.
But, most important is the need to re-energize the DDA (Doha Development Agenda), so as to provide an open and free multilateral trading system that benefits all. At the MC8, our Ministers instructed us to explore fresh approaches to moving the Round forward, as well as to identify specific areas where progress can be made. In this regard, we welcome what has been achieved since then, in particular the Services initiative launched by some Members, the work on expanding the ITA (Information Technology Agreement), the finalizing of LDC (Least Developed Countries) accession guidelines and the intensification of the work on Trade Facilitation.
On the subject of Trade Facilitation, though there is much technical work still to be done, it does seem to be within our grasp, if we have the political will to harvest it. In our view, this is an area where both developed and developing country Members can benefit significantly, and we should keep working on it.
We also welcome the DG's idea that after the summer break we should collectively explore the next steps, and identify exactly how and where we believe progress can be made, and when we can make it happen.
Madam Chair, I can assure you of our fullest support in this regard.
Thank you for giving me the floor.
