The World Trade Organization is the highest level international trade institution in the world. Inside the WTO there is a Dispute Settlement Body which consists of seven high ranking judges who have the power to make final decisions regarding trade conflicts. Zhang Yuejiao is one of them and she is also China's first female judge in such an organization. She was appointed to this position in June 2008. Now, at the age of 64, Zhang Yuejiao has entered this brand new, challenging chapter in her career. Today Zhao Kun will bring you more details about this successful Chinese woman.

Zhang Yuejiao,China's first woman  justice of Dispute Settlement Body of WTO.[photo:mofcom.gov.cn]

After spending the Chinese traditional spring festival with her family in her home country, Zhang Yuerong has now returned to her office in Geneva, Switzerland. She bought six different types of little tiger toys for her colleagues, hoping those small gifts could bring all of them good luck in the coming year. She says she highly values the opportunity of working in the WTO.

"It is my great honor to work here, with all those excellent judges from whom I can learn lots of useful things. Also, I think the dispute settlement body is a good place where I could freely use the knowledge that I have learnt and what I have experienced together with the spirit of justice and fair trade in the WTO. We are all working hard to try to build an improved WTO based within international trade law."

The WTO Dispute Settlement Body is regarded as the most powerful authority in solving international disputes. The main task for those judges is to decide whether, according to international rules, trade has been contravened. Zhang Yuejiao says it is really a challenging job. Since she became one of the high ranking judges in June, 2008, she has spent half of her time working in China and the other half in Geneva. However, Zhang says she really enjoys her work because after her retirement, she can continue to contribute her energy to China.

"Through my hard work and deep research, I can make those WTO officials aware that China is now developing quickly. We are trying our best to build a complete legal system and we have made a contribution to the field of international trade law. In the past, many people held a vague idea about the Chinese legal system, as an expert on international trade laws I have the responsibility to introduce the Chinese legal system."

In 1964, Zhang Yuejiao was chosen by the Chinese government as a promising student to study law in France. Four years later, with an excellent academic performance behind her, she came back to her motherland. Since then, she has been working as a legal professional for China.

"I think I am a lucky person. And I'm lucky to live and work in a time when China is developing quickly and strongly. I have worked for State Import & Export Regulatory Commission and National Investment Committee since 1978 and I participated in drafting many important regulations, such as "The Civil Law of the People's Republic of China". Those experiences really trained me to be more capable and I became more familiar with China's legal system."

Zhang Yuejiao's hard work and her diligent working spirit forged her good reputation in China. However she always held the opinion that one is never too old to learn. Later in life, she made her decision to study English and then she applied for a Master's degree in Law at Georgetown University in the USA. She then she went to Columbia University to get a PhD. During her period of study, she learnt French on her own. When she got her Doctoral Degree, not only had she become an expert in international trade law but she could also speak fluently in both English and French. As for her, life is full of challenges and the secret of making life better is to continue studying and continue to make efforts to improve.

"As a successful woman who has a profession, I will continue to meet many challenges. I have to find a balance between my family and career. Thanks to my family's support and understanding I can spend more time on my work and continue to make improvements. What makes me happy is that my children now all are living a good life and have good jobs and good families of their own. I also want to tell every woman in the world that the most important thing for a female is to be confident and independent."

Just like the little tiger toy sitting on her desk, she always looks full of energy. Her confidence and courage have led her to a successful career. With her elegant smile, Zhang Yuejiao will surely keep making contributions to the field of international trade law.

Editor：

After spending the Chinese traditional spring festival with her family in her home country, Zhang Yuerong has now returned to her office in Geneva, Switzerland. She bought six different types of little tiger toys for her colleagues, hoping those small gifts could bring all of them good luck in the coming year. She says she highly values the opportunity of working in the WTO.

"It is my great honor to work here, with all those excellent judges from whom I can learn lots of useful things. Also, I think the dispute settlement body is a good place where I could freely use the knowledge that I have learnt and what I have experienced together with the spirit of justice and fair trade in the WTO. We are all working hard to try to build an improved WTO based within international trade law."

The WTO Dispute Settlement Body is regarded as the most powerful authority in solving international disputes. The main task for those judges is to decide whether, according to international rules, trade has been contravened. Zhang Yuejiao says it is really a challenging job. Since she became one of the high ranking judges in June, 2008, she has spent half of her time working in China and the other half in Geneva. However, Zhang says she really enjoys her work because after her retirement, she can continue to contribute her energy to China.

"Through my hard work and deep research, I can make those WTO officials aware that China is now developing quickly. We are trying our best to build a complete legal system and we have made a contribution to the field of international trade law. In the past, many people held a vague idea about the Chinese legal system, as an expert on international trade laws I have the responsibility to introduce the Chinese legal system."

In 1964, Zhang Yuejiao was chosen by the Chinese government as a promising student to study law in France. Four years later, with an excellent academic performance behind her, she came back to her motherland. Since then, she has been working as a legal professional for China.

"I think I am a lucky person. And I'm lucky to live and work in a time when China is developing quickly and strongly. I have worked for State Import & Export Regulatory Commission and National Investment Committee since 1978 and I participated in drafting many important regulations, such as "The Civil Law of the People's Republic of China". Those experiences really trained me to be more capable and I became more familiar with China's legal system."

Zhang Yuejiao's hard work and her diligent working spirit forged her good reputation in China. However she always held the opinion that one is never too old to learn. Later in life, she made her decision to study English and then she applied for a Master's degree in Law at Georgetown University in the USA. She then she went to Columbia University to get a PhD. During her period of study, she learnt French on her own. When she got her Doctoral Degree, not only had she become an expert in international trade law but she could also speak fluently in both English and French. As for her, life is full of challenges and the secret of making life better is to continue studying and continue to make efforts to improve.

"As a successful woman who has a profession, I will continue to meet many challenges. I have to find a balance between my family and career. Thanks to my family's support and understanding I can spend more time on my work and continue to make improvements. What makes me happy is that my children now all are living a good life and have good jobs and good families of their own. I also want to tell every woman in the world that the most important thing for a female is to be confident and independent."

Just like the little tiger toy sitting on her desk, she always looks full of energy. Her confidence and courage have led her to a successful career. With her elegant smile, Zhang Yuejiao will surely keep making contributions to the field of international trade law.

After spending the Chinese traditional spring festival with her family in her home country, Zhang Yuerong has now returned to her office in Geneva, Switzerland. She bought six different types of little tiger toys for her colleagues, hoping those small gifts could bring all of them good luck in the coming year. She says she highly values the opportunity of working in the WTO.

"It is my great honor to work here, with all those excellent judges from whom I can learn lots of useful things. Also, I think the dispute settlement body is a good place where I could freely use the knowledge that I have learnt and what I have experienced together with the spirit of justice and fair trade in the WTO. We are all working hard to try to build an improved WTO based within international trade law."

The WTO Dispute Settlement Body is regarded as the most powerful authority in solving international disputes. The main task for those judges is to decide whether, according to international rules, trade has been contravened. Zhang Yuejiao says it is really a challenging job. Since she became one of the high ranking judges in June, 2008, she has spent half of her time working in China and the other half in Geneva. However, Zhang says she really enjoys her work because after her retirement, she can continue to contribute her energy to China.

"Through my hard work and deep research, I can make those WTO officials aware that China is now developing quickly. We are trying our best to build a complete legal system and we have made a contribution to the field of international trade law. In the past, many people held a vague idea about the Chinese legal system, as an expert on international trade laws I have the responsibility to introduce the Chinese legal system."

In 1964, Zhang Yuejiao was chosen by the Chinese government as a promising student to study law in France. Four years later, with an excellent academic performance behind her, she came back to her motherland. Since then, she has been working as a legal professional for China.

"I think I am a lucky person. And I'm lucky to live and work in a time when China is developing quickly and strongly. I have worked for State Import & Export Regulatory Commission and National Investment Committee since 1978 and I participated in drafting many important regulations, such as "The Civil Law of the People's Republic of China". Those experiences really trained me to be more capable and I became more familiar with China's legal system."

Zhang Yuejiao's hard work and her diligent working spirit forged her good reputation in China. However she always held the opinion that one is never too old to learn. Later in life, she made her decision to study English and then she applied for a Master's degree in Law at Georgetown University in the USA. She then she went to Columbia University to get a PhD. During her period of study, she learnt French on her own. When she got her Doctoral Degree, not only had she become an expert in international trade law but she could also speak fluently in both English and French. As for her, life is full of challenges and the secret of making life better is to continue studying and continue to make efforts to improve.

"As a successful woman who has a profession, I will continue to meet many challenges. I have to find a balance between my family and career. Thanks to my family's support and understanding I can spend more time on my work and continue to make improvements. What makes me happy is that my children now all are living a good life and have good jobs and good families of their own. I also want to tell every woman in the world that the most important thing for a female is to be confident and independent."

Just like the little tiger toy sitting on her desk, she always looks full of energy. Her confidence and courage have led her to a successful career. With her elegant smile, Zhang Yuejiao will surely keep making contributions to the field of international trade law.

Editor: Zhao Kun

News source: CRIENGLISH.com

Web source: http://english.cri.cn/4406/2010/03/11/2381s555782.htm