Beijing witnessed a unique blend of diplomacy and festivity as WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala released a special video message in Chinese on Chinese New Year’s eve. Delivering warm greetings in Mandarin—’Happy New Year’—she extended best wishes for health, happiness, and triumphs in the Year of the Dragon.
Okonjo-Iweala lauded the dragon as a powerful emblem of enthusiasm, adaptability, and growth, mirroring the attributes vital for navigating contemporary global trade dynamics. Her words resonate deeply in a world still recovering from economic shocks.
Looking back, she commended the extraordinary tenacity of international trade last year, which reaffirmed faith in an open, predictable multilateral system. Yet, challenges persist, prompting her call for sweeping reforms within the WTO to keep pace with economic transformations worldwide.
In a nod to bilateral ties, the director-general thanked China profusely for its unwavering backing of the organization. She expressed hope that China’s progressive reforms would align with and support WTO’s own overhaul initiatives.
This outreach underscores China’s pivotal role in global trade governance. As the Year of the Dragon dawns, symbolizing strength and ambition, Okonjo-Iweala’s message sets an optimistic tone for collaborative efforts to fortify the rules-based trading order against rising uncertainties like protectionism and digital trade disputes.