On March 10, 2021, the World Trade Organization (WTO) selected 17 outstanding women as "Women Pioneers at the WTO", paying tribute to the women who had played a pioneering role in the activities of the WTO and the multilateral trading system over the past 25 years. Professor Zhang Yuejiao of THU School of Law and Director of Tsinghua University Institute of International Dispute Settlement, won this honor.
Professor Zhang Yuejiao has, as an active practitioner in the development of China’s legal system opening to the outside world, witnessed the building of a foreign-related economic and trade legal system in China from scratch, experienced the great process of China's integration into the world trade system, and made outstanding contributions to the establishment and improvement of China's foreign-related economic and trade legal system.
Professor Zhang Yuejiao's speech
I felt very excited, honored and grateful when I received congratulations from the WTO Secretariat and learned that I was honored as one of the 17 “Women Pioneers” over the past 25 years since the founding of the WTO. The WTO and its Appellate Body were established after eight rounds of multilateral trade negotiations, which also made the WTO dispute settlement mechanism known as the "crown pearl" of the WTO system.
Twenty years ago, China acceded to the WTO through unremitting efforts and many rounds of negotiations, which also gave me the opportunity to participate in the election for the Appellate Body. With the recommendation of the leaders of the Ministry of Commerce and the support of the legal circles in China, I was appointed to the Appellate Body and started my career as a legal professional in the highest dispute settlement body of the WTO. This posed challenges while offering opportunities for growth and making contributions to international law, shouldering heavy responsibilities and performing a glorious mission! I secretly made up my mind to do my utmost to defend international fairness and justice on the international stage in accordance with international law.
During the eight years and ten months when I served on the Appellate Body, I worked hard, researched rigorously, and participated in the settlement of more than 40 disputes. A voice in my heart urges me to fight for fairness and justice in the world, win honor for the motherland, and be a worthy representative of Chinese legal professionals! On the calligraphy copybook that I presented to the WTO as a gift, I wrote “Facta Non Verba”, which is also my motto. I have done my best to fulfill my duty and serve the public. The honor of “Pioneer” belongs to China and the WTO. Thank you, the WTO! Thank you, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce! Thank you, legal colleagues! Thank you, Tsinghua University!
