On September 7th, the Preparatory Segment for the Founding Session of the Global Alliance for Trade in Services (GATIS) was held in Beijing. Leaders from the Ministry of Commerce and the Beijing Municipal Government, heads of the GATIS founding members, experts and scholars in relevant fields, international organizations, chambers of commerce and representatives of member enterprises attended the meeting.

A representative of the GATIS founding members introduced the preparatory work of the GATIS, a non-profit international organization voluntarily joined by business/industry associations, companies, professional institutions or organizations in relevant countries and regions.

The organization aims to promote exchanges and cooperation in the field of international trade in services, develop new models and forms of business in the service sector, optimize the standards and rules of trade in services, and promote the open, innovative and integrated development of the service sector and trade in services.

The establishment of the GATIS has been greatly supported by relevant international organizations, domestic and foreign chambers of commerce, well-known enterprises and governments. So far, more than 100 organizations and enterprises have applied to join the GATIS, including international organizations, chambers of commerce, well-known enterprises and relevant institutions, covering five continents of the world and twelve major areas of trade in services.

As a new organization in deepening international cooperation in the field of trade in services, the GATIS will strive to meet the expectations of services trade institutions and enterprises, devote itself to opening up new channels for international exchanges in trade in services, build a new platform for global trade cooperation and establish a new mechanism for cooperation with international organizations and domestic and foreign chambers of commerce. It will also help its members to develop in-depth services trade cooperation on a larger scale and at a higher level, create more opportunities in investment, trade and employment, and promote sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth of global trade in services.

At the meeting, the guests discussed the articles of the constitution, the election of the first council and relevant working documents, and made suggestions on the agenda of the founding session, the priorities of the GATIS after its establishment and so on. It is understood that the founding session of GATIS is scheduled to be held in Beijing this year, at which the alliance initiative will be released.

(Reporter: Ma Jing)