GENEVA, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Famous Chinese lawyer
Zhang Yuejiao was sworn in on Tuesday as a judge of the World Trade
Organization(WTO)'s top court.
Zhang will start a four-year term in the Appellate
Body on June1. The seven-member body is often considered as the highest court of
the WTO, which gives final rulings to trade disputes.
Japan's Shotaro Oshima was also sworn in as a new
member of the body. He and Zhang will replace two outgoing judges.
According to WTO regulations, members of the
Appellate Body should be "persons of recognized authority, with demonstrated
expertise in law, international trade and the subject matter of the WTO
agreements generally."
They should perform their duties "honorably,
independently, impartially and conscientiously" and at all times "avoid direct
or indirect conflicts of interests."
Zhang, 63, is professor of law at Shantou University
in China. She is also an arbitrator on China's International Trade and Economic
Arbitration Commission and practises law as a private attorney.
Zhang once held positions at the Chinese Ministry of
Commerce as well as at the Asian Development Bank.
