HOW REFORM PATH LED TO CHINA' S WTO ENTRY

Pascal Lamy sees challenges ahead but believes world can avoid descent into protectionism

Pascal Lamy, former director-general of the World Trade Organization, said he believes the reform and opening-up was a major turning point in world history.

The 71-year-old also says there is an increasing understanding of the initiative that was launched by Deng Xiaoping 40 years ago this week at the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Beijing.