Beijing's efforts in services trade lauded

China's efforts to improve domestic regulation and open up its services market can help sustain growth in services trade and bring its benefits to ordinary households, participants at a seminar in Geneva said on Thursday.

The seminar, themed "Regulatory Practices to Empower Services Trade for a Better Life", was organized by Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, or SUIBE, and held during the World Trade Organization Public Forum 2026.

Ying Pingguang, dean of the School of Global Governance at SUIBE, said greater openness can help drive domestic regulatory modernization and help promote inclusive and sustainable growth in the services sector.

In recent years, China has introduced a series of reforms to streamline approval procedures, enhance transparency in rulemaking and facilitate digital trade, providing valuable experience for the world, Ying said.

Pierre Sauve, a senior research fellow and lecturer at the World Trade Institute at the University of Bern, said developing country members should have a stronger voice in discussions on WTO rules for regulating services trade.

Mina Mashayekhi, former director in charge of the Division of International Trade in Goods, Services and Commodities and head of Trade Negotiations at the UN Trade and Development, said regulatory reforms can help expand services trade.

These reforms include simplifying licensing procedures, improving transparency and facilitating digital trade, which can give consumers more choices and promote greater inclusiveness, Mashayekhi said.

This year's WTO Public Forum, themed "Powering the Future", has brought together more than 4,600 participants for 113 sessions to discuss the future of the global trading system. The forum concluded on Thursday.

yangyi3@chinadaily.com.cn