ENHANCING TRADE POLICY-MAKING IN CHINA A capacity-buyilding partnership in Guangdong Province

In partnership with the

This project is the result of a collaboration between The Guangdong WTO Affairs Consultation Service Center in China and the Federal Trust for Education and Research, the International Trade Policy Unit at the London School of Economics and the consultancy Agora Projects based in London.

Details about the Federal Trust's partners in this project can be found below.

Details about the Federal Trust can be accessed by clicking here.

The Guangdong WTO Affairs Consultation Center (GDWTO) was established in November 2001 with the authorization of Guangdong People's Government. The main function of the center is to maintain contact with the WTO Affairs Department in the Ministry of Commerce, build WTO information databases, follow up and study the WTO negotiations, provide consultation service to enterprises and related departments, organize training and personnel exchange, coordinate and organize the adaptive adjustment of Guangdong economy.

The center has departments of research, consultation and training, as well as more than 20 employees at middle and high professional level. Both the authorized duty and work condition of the center demonstrate that it is the most qualified organization to carry out the project in Guangdong.

The center also acts as the secretary of the Guangdong WTO Affairs Consultation Council. The Council is a non-corporate body established in March 2002. There are totally 95 members from 69 relevant government departments, research institutes, enterprises, industrial associations and NGOs in Guangdong province. They represent Guangdong's comprehensive interests in WTO affaires. Mr. Tang Bing Quan, the vice governor of Guangdong province, acts as the honorary chairman, and Mr. Long Yong Tu, the secretary of Bo'ao Asian Forum, acts as the senior consultant. The council is the highest level of consulting network on WTO affairs in Guangdong and the best channel for the public to participate in trade negotiation.

To contact Chen Lei at the GDWTO please click here.

The International Trade Policy Unit at the London School of Economics aims to serve the needs of the academic, policy, business, and civil society community. They conduct research, evaluation, and educative and capacity building projects that address the numerous and complex policy and business implications of trade agreements at the multilateral, regional and national levels.

The ITPU can draw upon the experience and interdisciplinary skills of LSE Experts, partner institutions, select alumni, and upon research work being pursued within the wide range of social science disciplines in the School.

The LSE is recognised as the world's leading social sciences institution for both teaching and research, conducted through 18 departments and 30 research centres and institutes. The School's academic profile spans a wide range of disciplines, from Economics, International Relations, Trade Policy, Government and Law, to Sociology, Information Systems, and Accounting and Finance.

Over more than 115 years the LSE has developed excellent global links, both through institutional co-operation and through its alumni networks. In particular, over the last few years, the LSE has developed a major programme for engagement with China. This includes institutional tie-ups with Peking University, Tsinghua University and Fudan University through a further deepening and strengthening of this engagement through joint ventures, research programmes, consultancies, etc. The LSE has already established a representative office in China and will be upgrading this relationship in the near future.

To contact Julius Sen at the ITPU please click here.

Agora Projects Ltd

The editorial team at Agora Projects are well-established commissioners and editors of substantive comment on the range of issues that are identified in this paper as core themes for the project.

Specifically, in addition to the publications they have managed for international summit meetings of the UN, NATO, OECD, the editors of Agora Projects have also been responsible for three editions of The World Trade Brief, produced in association with the WTO and distributed to delegates at Seattle, Doha and Cancun. They are currently commencing work on the fourth edition for the Hong Kong ministerial in late 2005.

The editors have also completed successful partnerships with Whitehall departments (notably FCO and DTI) including for the State Visit of The President of The People's Republic of China in October 1999 in partnership with the China Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Publishing House. Agora Projects recently opened an office in Hong Kong.

During this project all of project partner would look to also develop further their existing working relationships with, among others, The Secretariat of the World Trade Oragnization, FCO, DTI, DFID, British Council, The China-Britain Business Council, Great Britain China Centre and the Law Society of England and Wales.

To contact Diana Fortescue at Agora Projects please click here.

This project is kindly supported by the Global Opportunities Fund at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The project partners would also like the thank the British Embassy in Beijing for their assistance in developing this project.