A research center on World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement mechanism was set up in Shanghai on Sunday, the first of its kind in the country.

The China-WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism Center (CWTODSMC) will offer suggestions and solutions to trade disputes for government and businesses, said Gong Baihua, deputy director of the center.

The center was jointly founded by the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade and the Shanghai WTO Affairs Consultation Center, a non-governmental organization.

"Such a research institute will help Chinese government and businesses further familiarize themselves with WTO rules and learn how to resolve disputes using the dispute settlement mechanism," said Zhang Yuejiao, one of the five counselors for the center.

In November last year, Zhang was appointed by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) as a member of the seven-person Appellate Body, which issues final rulings in trade disputes. She is the first Chinese judge on WTO's highest court.

China has been facing a number of trade disputes in the past seven years after the country joined WTO.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2008)