China announced at the United Nations headquarters in New York that it will not seek new special and differential treatment in current and future negotiations at the World Trade Organization. This important declaration responds to the international community's expectation for China to play a more prominent leading role in the world trade system, and has caused widespread and positive reactions in international public opinion. Since the application for "reopening" in 1986, based on its own economic reality and political positioning, China has always declared itself as a developing country. In the various negotiations that China participated in after joining the WTO, China insisted on working with other developing countries to demand that developed countries fully consider the needs of developing countries and provide them with appropriate special and differential treatment. China's position has made significant contributions to achieving a balanced and development oriented negotiation outcome. With the continuous improvement of its status and international competitiveness in world trade, China has gradually adjusted its position on special and differential treatment issues and made a major decision not to seek new special and differential treatment on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the World Trade Organization. In fact, China has voluntarily abandoned special and differential treatment multiple times before, making important contributions to the smooth completion of negotiations. In 2013, the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference passed the Trade Facilitation Agreement, in which China set an example by voluntarily relinquishing the right of developing countries to retain Class C measures and only retaining four Class B measures. China committed to implementing most of its obligations from the date of the agreement's entry into force, without seeking a longer transition period, and approaching the level of developed countries. In the negotiation on intellectual property rights exemption of COVID-19 Vaccine in 2022, as a major producer and supplier of vaccines, China took the initiative to announce that it would not seek the flexibility provided by the exemption. In addition, starting from December 1, 2024, China will grant 100% tariff free treatment to all least developed countries, including 33 African countries, that have established diplomatic relations with China, making it the first developing country and major economy in the world to implement this measure. Not seeking new special and differential treatment means that China will make higher levels of openness commitments compared to other developing countries, and assume more responsibilities and obligations in the WTO system. Against the backdrop of the rise of global trade protectionism, China has sent a strong signal of courage, solidarity, and cooperation, demonstrating its determination to work with all parties to promote trade liberalization and facilitation. This will further boost confidence in the multilateral trading system and inject more stability and positive energy into the turbulent world. It must be pointed out that China's failure to seek new special and differential treatment in current and future negotiations at the World Trade Organization does not mean that China has given up its status as a developing country. China will always be a developing country, which is an important recognition based on profound historical and political heritage. At the same time, although China will no longer negotiate as a collective with other developing countries to obtain special and differential treatment, China will always support developing countries politically and technically in seeking reasonable special and differential treatment, and safeguard their rightful trade and development rights. More than two-thirds of the 166 members of the World Trade Organization are developing members, and development issues have always been a common concern and interest of members. The major initiative announced by China has distinct development attributes, which will promote the multilateral trading system to focus more on development issues, enhance the inclusiveness and inclusiveness of international trade, better bridge the development gap between the North and the South, and achieve the original intention of the World Trade Organization to promote global development. At the same time, China hopes to make greater open contributions in future WTO negotiations, providing new impetus for faster promotion of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, thereby creating more market opportunities for other developing countries and helping them better share China's opportunities. (New Society)