Since adopting the Open Door Policy in the 1970s, China gradually emerged as a rising economic power on the international stage and has now become a key actor in global political and economic affairs, challenging the interests of major powers. Economic reforms in China underwent significant transformation from the mid-1980s, prior to its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which is clearly reflected in its trade performance. Today, China has become a major player in international trade, both in imports and exports. The shift from older methods to import planning through licensing and the use of tariffs has given market mechanisms and pricing a central role in determining China’s future relations with the world. This study aims to answer the strategic question: “What explicit and implicit objectives has the People’s Republic of China pursued through its accession to the WTO?” The underlying hypothesis posits that China’s accession to the WTO, as part of its broader economic reform process, enabled the country to consolidate the benefits derived from two decades of trade reforms and provided a foundation for continuing future reforms.