China names ‘highly capable, effective technocrat’ as WTO ambassador as Beijing awaits Biden’s moves on trade
- Former assistant commerce minister Li Chenggang has been appointed as China’s ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO)
- The Biden administration said last week that it is committed to engaging with all members of the WTO on reforming the global trade body
China has appointed a former assistant commerce minister, described as a “highly capable and effective technocrat”, as the country’s ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) as Beijing prepares for a different approach from the United States to the global trade body.
Law graduate Li Chenggang has also been appointed as deputy permanent representative to the United Nations office in Geneva, as well other international organisations in Switzerland, the official Xinhua New Agency reported on Thursday.
The former director of the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Treaty and Law replaces Zhang Xiangchen, who left the role in late 2020 after representing China at the WTO for over three years. Zhang is now a vice-minister at the Ministry of Commerce.
The Department of Treaty and Law is responsible for drafting and advising on laws and other regulatory documents, while also handling international negotiations related to intellectual property and investment agreements.
He will be able to strategically use WTO rules and litigation to defend and advance China’s interests
“Given his long stint at the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Commerce, he will be able to strategically use WTO rules and litigation to defend and advance China’s interests,” said Henry Gao, an associate professor of law at Singapore Management University, who is a long time researcher of international trade issues, adding that Li is a “highly capable, effective technocrat”.