"Our delegation to the WTO is to show that China is an active participator in the world multilateral trading system, and we have a strong urge to work like one and do a good job there," Sun said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency Thursday.

"We will try our best to safeguard the interests of China and help protect the interests of the developing nations."

Sun, who is scheduled to leave Beijing for Geneva this Saturday, said he will present his credentials to WTO Director-General Mike Moore following his arrival. An opening ceremony for the Chinese mission's office will be held on January 28 in Geneva.

Moore, heads of the delegations of the other WTO members, and Chinese officials who led the negotiations for China's WTO entry will attend the ceremony.

Sun, born in 1946 in Hebei Province near Beijing, began his job in the foreign trade and economic cooperation area about 30 years ago. He once served as deputy general manager of the China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Import and Export Corp., director of the Department of America and Oceanic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation (MOFTEC) and assistant minister of MOFTEC before he became a vice-minister.

Sun said he feels his new job to be both an honor and a heavy task for him.

"China finally became a member of the WTO after 15 years of negotiations," he said. "I felt honored by the appointment at this juncture."

He said he expects to gain experience in Geneva.

"I am confident of doing my job well, because I have a strong team, including legal and trade experts. I can also call upon experts from other areas in time of necessity."

His team's main duty will be to negotiate with the secretariat of the WTO and other WTO members, participate in bilateral and multilateral negotiations, and exchange views with other delegations.

Sun said he will first exchange views with delegations of the developing countries to the WTO after he arrives in Geneva. He will get to know their ideas and wishes, and coordinate stances on some international occasions.

The delegation will also engage in contacts and exchanges of views with domestic industries and ventures, to help them get aquatinted with WTO rules and better prepare to meet the challenges arising from China's WTO entry, he said.

"China's economic power has been greatly strengthened over the past couple of decades and its international influence is increasing," he said. "As a responsible big country, China will work with other members of the WTO and help to build the organization into a truly fair, just and open trading system."

(Xinhua News Agency January 25, 2002)