"Policy space" must be granted to developing countries in their participation in international trade and trade negotiations, Sha Zukang, Chinese ambassador to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, said Thursday in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The most significant embarrassment developing countries are facing today is that developed nations always dominate in the decision-making of trade rules, some of which are even harmful to the sovereignties and development of poor countries, he said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

Every member in the international community has the right to choose their own paths of development and no single country or organization could impose its will on other countries, said Sha, who is also the chairman of the Preparatory Committee of the 11th UNCTAD conference.

He insisted that "special and differential" treatment and "policy space" be reserved to developing countries in both the stipulation and implementation of new world trade rules.

The ambassador lamented that the pledge by developed countries in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to contribute their 0.7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) to the development of poor countries is far from being fulfilled.

Facing a globalizing world, South-South cooperation could not be regarded as a substitute for South-North dialogue, he noted, adding that rich countries must take up the responsibility of helping the poor achieve a win-win situation.

Recognizing that market has its unique role in resources allocation, Sha stressed that governments of poor nations should never abandon their functions of macroeconomic regulation.

Without effective macroeconomic regulations, poor countries could be dealt further blows in economic growth, he added.

He also called upon transnational corporations to play a role in environment protection and sustainable development for both their "home countries" and "host countries" rather than only seek to earn profits.

The quadrennial UNCTAD conference was opened here on Monday with the main theme -- enhancing the coherence between national development strategies and global economic processes towards economic growth and development, particularly in developing countries.

Source: Xinhua