GENEVA - Since China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, China's role in the system has increased a lot with its exports being increased by seven times and imports by six times, Director-General of the WTO Roberto Azevedo said.

China underwent its seventh Trade Policy Review (TPR) by the WTO from July 11 to 13, during which Azevedo told Chinese media that China's major achievements during this period also include lifting more than 500 million people out of poverty.

"China has been a very active player throughout," he noted.

Looking forward, the WTO chief believed that China will be part of the efforts to make the organization even more effective, and to figure out the problems with other members to improve the system.

"This system has been under stress more recently, given these trade tensions all over the world," Azevedo said. "So the way to reflect and react to these things is to be ahead of the curve and ready to do the things necessary to make the system even more effective, even stronger."

According to the WTO chief, the WTO has been doing the very best to make clear to everyone that these sanctions and restrictive measures are "not going to help anyone."

"Everybody loses in this scenario. Even those who think they may win, they don't. WTO has been trying to give this picture as clear as possible to everyone," he said.