The Chinese automotive industry has changed dramatically after entering the WTO ten years ago, Zhang Xiaoyu, vice president of the China Machinery Industry Federation, told a forum on Wednesday.

At the 2011 Global Automotive Forum in Chengdu, Sichuan province, Zhang said the Chinese automotive industry was once a fledgling sector during the WTO accession negotiation. Since China's entry into the WTO in 2001, the Chinese automotive sector has developed into a respectable industry and shifted the global auto market center.

"In the development process of the global automotive industry in the 21st century, China will undoubtedly play a very important role," Zhang said.

This is the second annual meeting of the Global Automotive Forum with the theme of "From Volume Leader to Innovation Leader", which lasts from Oct 11 to 12.