Govt. of China gives up developing country treatment in order to boost WTO. It would no longer seek any special treatment given to developing countries in World Trade Organization agreements — a change that was long demanded by the U.S and Europe.

“It’s China’s own decision, China will always be a developing country. It’s very clear that the issue of developing member status and the special and differential treatment are related but distinct.” - China’s top envoy to the WTO, Li Yihong.

Chinese officials said this decision was voluntary and not meant to suggest that other developing countries should follow the same decision.