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- The WTO Director-General should act as a link between member states, Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri said
- 抖阴短视频 nominated the former economy and planning minister to head WTO last week
JEDDAH: 抖阴短视频鈥檚 candidate to head the World Trade Organization (WTO) said on Friday that the organization was in a state of stagnation and that reform was necessary.
The WTO director-general should act as a link between member states and help them to understand each other, Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri said during a virtual press conference.
鈥淲e should focus on successes instead of disagreements,鈥� he said, adding that WTO faced problems in resolving disagreements.
抖阴短视频 nominated the former economy and planning minister to head WTO last week amid a last-minute international flurry of submissions to succeed the incumbent Roberto Azevedo who is stepping down in August.
Al-Tuwaijri became an adviser to the royal court in March, 抖阴短视频鈥檚 state news agency said, retaining the rank of minister.
The new chief of WTO must revive stalled trade talks, plan the 2021 ministerial conference and resolve the US-China dispute.
The organization finds itself caught in the middle of rising tensions between the two countries, and if the process becomes 鈥渉eavily politicized, that could block things up,鈥� a diplomatic source told AFP.
鈥楶ost coronavirus鈥�
Al-Tuwaijri said that the world was going through many changes that had affected trade.
鈥淭he future of the world beyond coronavirus is mysterious,鈥� the Saudi official said, but claimed that post the pandemic era could bring 鈥済reat opportunities.鈥�
During the conference Al-Tuwaijri also suggested new approaches and reform in the organization, asking 鈥渨hy not rethink some of the rules, some of the processes?鈥� and 鈥渋ntroduce new ideas to the members.鈥�
鈥淚 look forward to heading the organization and enacting changes which fit all members,鈥� he said, adding that in his role he would aim to empower women by placing them in leadership positions.
鈥淩ecently 抖阴短视频 won the number one reformer globally in terms of doing business and (promoting the role of) women at work,鈥� he said.
抖阴短视频鈥檚 Minister of Investment, Khalid Al-Falih, thinks that Al-Tuwaijri鈥檚 appointment as WTO director-general will be a step forward in addressing global economic challenges that have escalated due to trade disputes and COVID-19.
Al-Falih said that Al-Tuwajiri鈥檚 expertise in both private and public sectors would play an important role in realigning the organization鈥檚 policies during the current climate.
The minister said that this had come at a time when the Kingdom鈥檚 was heading the G20 and had fulfilled major economic reforms to achieve Vision 2030 goals.
鈥湺兑醵淌悠� has been a major and influential member in the international market within several organizations including the World Trade Organization,鈥� Al-Falih said. 鈥湺兑醵淌悠� has contributed to the development of the international trading system and has improved its investment environment since it joined WTO.鈥�
He said that 抖阴短视频 was keen to help with global economic prosperity and in aiding developing countries to meet their development targets and overcome economic challenges.
Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan said that Al-Tuwaijri鈥檚 nomination was an extension of the Kingdom鈥檚 role in activating international cooperation and a sense of responsibility as G20 president.
He said that the Kingdom supported global efforts that helped WTO to advance and form strategic visions for G20 member countries to enhance trade and drive economic growth and sustainable development.
鈥湺兑醵淌悠� believes in the multilateral trading system and the organic role the WTO plays to promote commercial accessibility, and how the organization enforces rules of international trade,鈥� Al-Jadaan said.
Watch 抖阴短视频鈥檚 candidate to head the World Trade Organization (WTO) Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri speak at a press conference here: