The World Trade Organization held a commemorative event for its 30th anniversary on the 10th. The attending members reviewed the historical achievements of the multilateral trading system, discussed the current survival challenges faced by the World Trade Organization, and looked forward to future reform directions. During the event, 41 small and medium-sized economies including Switzerland and Singapore jointly launched the "Friends of the Multilateral Trading System" initiative. The initiative fully recognizes the important role played by the World Trade Organization in global trade liberalization and the integration of developing countries into the world economy over the past thirty years, and points out that the current multilateral trading system is facing severe challenges, including global supply chain disruptions and rising protectionism. The initiative calls on all parties to reaffirm their commitment to WTO rules, maintain trade openness, jointly promote WTO reform in innovative ways, better respond to current challenges, and uphold the fundamental role of the multilateral trading system with WTO at its core. The representatives of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group, Barbados, the African Group, Mozambique, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, South Korea, Peru, Brazil, Nepal, Japan, China, Russia and other members made statements. The speech pointed out the risks of unilateral tariff challenges and increased uncertainty in world trade, emphasized the importance of adhering to the basic principles of non discrimination of the World Trade Organization, called for firm maintenance of the multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization and based on rules, and committed to taking effective measures to promote WTO reform and ensure the success of the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization. The Chinese representative pointed out in his speech that the current turbulent international situation highlights the core values of the World Trade Organization. The unilateral tariffs imposed by the United States on its members, including China, have seriously impacted the multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization and the world economy, especially on weak economies and the least developed countries. China has taken firm countermeasures not only to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and development interests, but also to defend international trade rules and international fairness and justice. History has repeatedly proven that protectionism has no way out, and open cooperation is the right path. China is willing to work with all parties to practice true multilateralism, firmly uphold the rules and regulations of the World Trade Organization, and inject more stability and predictability into the global economy. In her summary, the Director General of the World Trade Organization, Ivira, encouraged members to cherish the WTO platform, promote development and security through trade, and advance WTO reform with innovative ideas. (New Society)