On the afternoon of September 10, 2026, Zhao Weidong, Secretary-General of the Global Alliance for Trade in Services (hereinafter referred to as the “GATIS”), met with Mr. Nanno Mulder, Chief of International Trade and Integration Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC), during the China International Fair for Trade in Services. The two sides held in-depth discussions on cooperation in trade in services.
Secretary-General Zhao Weidong welcomed Mr. Nanno Mulder and said that the GATIS is an international non-governmental organization established voluntarily by trade in services enterprises, business associations and professional institutions from countries and regions around the world in response to an important initiative put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the China International Fair for Trade in Services in 2020. The GATIS is committed to promoting exchanges and cooperation in international trade in services, providing services to enterprises and supporting the development of the industry. It currently has 325 members from 41 countries and regions, spanning five continents and 12 major areas of trade in services. Its three main functions are exchange and cooperation, think tank research, and policy dialogue. Upholding the principles of “neutrality, openness, inclusiveness and innovation,” the GATIS is willing to strengthen communication and exchanges with relevant United Nations agencies and work with UNECLAC to develop cooperation in areas including organizing forums and conferences and participating in exhibitions and conferences, while establishing mechanisms for such cooperation.
Mr. Nanno Mulder introduced UNECLAC and put forward proposals for cooperation between the two sides. He said that he hoped to work with the GATIS to jointly establish a “China–LAC Services Trade Observatory” to systematically identify complementary needs in trade in services between China and Latin America and the Caribbean, provide enterprises with practical pathways to access each other’s markets, and help them understand and comply with relevant requirements. He also proposed enhancing the export capabilities of Chinese and Latin American and Caribbean enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, through capacity building and training. In addition, he suggested leveraging an agent-based internet trade services platform to establish a cross-border services hub as well as a talent development and exchange center. He further proposed that the two sides start by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), use it as a basis for relevant activities, and promote trade in services between China and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Secretary-General Zhao Weidong thanked Mr. Nanno Mulder for his proposals of cooperation. He noted that the observatory would be a large-scale, systematic cooperation initiative involving multiple service sectors and the matching of supply and demand between China and Latin America and the Caribbean. It would require thorough preparations and steady progress. The GATIS fully supports the proposal and recommends that the two sides proceed step by step. He also suggested exploring the possibility of signing an MoU to establish a long-term cooperation mechanism, provide a basis for follow-up cooperation on specific projects, including the observatory, and clarify coordination arrangements. The two sides could begin preliminary discussions on the framework of the MoU and identify the areas of cooperation each side can commit to. He expressed hope that the meeting would serve as an opportunity to further deepen practical cooperation and create a brighter future together.
