(6 Mar 1997) English/Nat
The World Trade Organisation reviewed China's long-standing bid for membership on Thursday with little likelihood of immediate acceptance, but officials say some progress has been made.
The session was the last in the latest round of talks with China's chief negotiator and assistant foreign trade minister calling the session very constructive.
Speaking at a news conference, Long Yongtu, said a consensus has been reached on some parts of the issues surrounding the country's bid for membership.
A formal session of the 130-member World Trade Organisation was scheduled on Thursday to discuss admitting China.
At issue is how the world's most populous country, will conform to W-T-O rules and how long it will take to change a range of laws and regulations to avoid unfair advantages in trade.
Other countries want to be sure they will be able to sell products and services to China if they grant the Chinese access to their markets.
They also want more rights for non-Chinese companies.
China first sought membership in W-T-O's forerunner, GATT, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, in 1986.
But members have been unwilling to grant the Chinese the concessions they want to protect their economy from foreign competition.
After the meeting, U-S Chief negotiator Lee Sand, said progress had been made upon the issue of intellectual property right.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"On intellectual property protection, they said that they implement the trips upon accession.
Q: For a developed country?
A: For full trips, which is a very positive sign. We have made general progress discussing a number of subsidy issues."
SUPER CAPTION: Lee Sand, U-S Chief negotiator
Speaking at a press conference after the session, Long said he was "very encouraged" by the business-like way the negotiations and bargaining are proceeding.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Certainly we have been on the right track, we have made very important progress, however, we have to recognise that we still have many important things to tackle, and we are now trying to estimate the efforts that we are going to make, because it's a very complicated process. And, of course, as far as China is concerned, we hope for an early entry of China's W-T-O accession after ten years of negotiations, which is unusually long."
SUPER CAPTION: Long Yongtu, Chinese Chief negotiator
He didn't indicate when he expected the negotiations over China's W-T-O membership bid to conclude.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"All of you all understand, it takes two to tango and it's up to China to decide how and when this agreement could be reached. So I hope that, so long as all the parties concerned have a political will to resolve the remaining issues, I think, in the momentum generated at this and the last session will be maintained and further enhanced. I think that the important thing is not the date that China will get into W-T-O, but this process going on."
SUPER CAPTION: Long Yongtu, Chinese Chief negotiator
Although China is calling for quick action from major powers to admit it into the W-T-O, not every body believes the nation is ready to conform to the organisation's rules.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: William Overholt, Bankers Trust
But, other trade officials close to the talks said that if all went well, China could become a member of the W-T-O some time in the first half of 1998.
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