LEDECO and RUC Joint Study Tour for Global Vision and Multilateral Spirits 2019

On 6^th-14^th July 2019, LEDECO organized a Study Tour for Global Vision and Multilateral Spirits jointly with Renmin University of China (RUC) at Geneva. Altogether twenty RUC students of bachelor, master and doctor level participated in the study tour.

During the study tour, the delegation has visited international organizations including the World Trade Organization (WTO), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Trade Centre (ITC), the World Business Council For Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the World Bank Office at Geneva.

Senior representatives of these international organizations and institutions delivered high-quality lectures and first-hand knowledge to the delegation, systematically introducing the history, work and role of their organizations in global governance. Lecturers include Ambassador YI Xiaozhun, Deputy Director-General of the WTO; Mr Danio Campanelli, Project coordinator of the Council & TNC Division of the WTO; Mr. Filippo Veglio, Managing Director of WBCSD; Mr. Simon Schorno, Operations Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific of the ICRC; Mr. Ferran Perez Ribo, International Relations Officer of the World Bank, etc.

In addition, the students have also participated in a simulation course of international trade negotiations delivered by Professor Xiankun LU. Ambassador Wayne McCook, the senior consultant of Director-General of the WTO and former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the WTO was invited to share his experience of multilateral trade negotiations. Participants were divided into five groups, representing respectively China, the US, Singapore, the Least-developed Countries (LDCs) and the negotiation body. They simulated an intensified text-based negotiation on special and differential treatment (S&D) of the WTO. In the simulation, participants learned to prepare and submit negotiation proposals, organize formal and informal consultations, engage in text-based negotiations, etc.

Participants also visited Domaine Alain Chollet at Lavaux Switzerland participants to learn about the challenges Swiss wine industry, innovative spirit of Swiss enterprises, as well as how they are related to global trade and sustainable policies.

Annex: Programme of LEDECO and RUC Joint Study Tour 2019