Nations call for multilateralism as WTO marks 30th anniversary

The World Trade Organization (WTO) commemorated its 30th anniversary on Thursday, with representatives from around the globe calling for a renewed commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based global trading system.

During the event, 41 economies jointly issued a Friends of Multilateralism initiative, recognizing the WTO's key role in driving global trade liberalization and integrating developing nations into the world economy over the past three decades. The statement emphasized that the multilateral trading system now faces serious threats, including supply chain disruptions and the resurgence of protectionism.

Participants urged all members to reaffirm their commitment to WTO rules, maintain open trade, and innovate reforms that will enable the organization to better address current global challenges, and safeguard the foundational role of the WTO-centered multilateral trading system.

Speakers from across the WTO membership, including Barbados on behalf of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group, Mozambique for the African Group, as well as the European Union, China, and Russia, expressed concern about rising unilateral tariffs and increasing global uncertainty. They reaffirmed the importance of the WTO's core principles, such as non-discrimination, and called for firm support of a WTO-centered, rules-based multilateral trading system, with a commitment to concrete actions for WTO reform and ensuring the success of the organization's 14th Ministerial Conference.

China's representative emphasized that growing global instability highlights the WTO's irreplaceable value. Criticizing the United States for imposing unilateral tariffs on WTO members including China, the Chinese side warned that such actions severely undermine the multilateral trading system and global economic stability, particularly harming vulnerable and least-developed economies.

China resolutely defends its countermeasures as necessary to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, while also protecting international trade rules, fairness and justice. History has proven time and again that protectionism leads nowhere, and openness and cooperation are the right path forward, said the Chinese representative, adding that China remains committed to genuine multilateralism and to safeguarding the WTO's rules-based system for a more stable and predictable global economy.

The WTO was established in 1995, making free trade a universal principle in international trade and economic exchanges.

Nations call for multilateralism as WTO marks 30th anniversary

Nations call for multilateralism as WTO marks 30th anniversary

Nations call for multilateralism as WTO marks 30th anniversary

Nations call for multilateralism as WTO marks 30th anniversary

An Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi arrived in Pakistan on Friday night to discuss regional developments and ongoing peace efforts, a spokesman for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Tahir Andrabi, the spokesman, said in a social media post that Araghchi is scheduled to meet Pakistan's leadership to exchange views on the evolving regional situation and efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability.

Upon arrival, the Iranian foreign minister was received by Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with other senior officials.

Araghchi currently has no negotiation plans with U.S. representatives, but will convey messages to the U.S. side through Pakistani mediators, according to Iranian sources on Friday.

However, the White House said Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are heading to Pakistan for talks with Araghchi this weekend.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. negotiating team during the first round of talks in Pakistan earlier this month, is not currently planning to attend the upcoming talks, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, adding he will be standing by and consulting Trump alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Earlier in the day, Araghchi said in a social media post that he was embarking on a regional tour that includes stops in Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow. Araghchi emphasized that the purpose of the visit is to closely coordinate with partners on bilateral affairs and to consult on the regional situation. He also noted that Iran's neighbors are a priority for Iran.

Iranian delegation led by FM arrives in Pakistan