Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=6/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234254
TITLE=CHINA / U-S TRADE / L
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  A U-S SPOKESMAN INDICATES A PROPOSAL BY CHINA TO OFFER 
FOREIGN COMPANIES GREATER ACCESS TO ITS SERVICE SECTOR DOES NOT 
SATISFY U-S CONCERNS ABOUT BEIJING'S BID TO JOIN THE WORLD TRADE 
ORGANIZATION.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS BOTH 
U-S AND CHINESE OFFICIALS ARE DOWNPLAYING ANY HOPES OF A 
BREAKTHROUGH ON THE W-T-O ISSUE DURING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VISIT 
TO CHINA NEXT WEEK.
TEXT:  U-S TRADE REPRESENTATIVE CHARLENE BARSHEFSKY HAS BEEN IN 
BEIJING FOR THREE DAYS TO DISCUSS THE W-T-O AND OTHER ISSUES WITH
CHINESE FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER SHI GUANGSHENG. 
A NEW CHINESE PROPOSAL WOULD ALLOW MORE FOREIGN COMPETITION IN 
SUCH SERVICES AS FINANCE, ACCOUNTING AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS.  BUT
MRS. BARSHEFSKY'S SPOKESMAN -- JAY ZIEGLER -- SAYS WASHINGTON IS 
LOOKING FOR MORE THAN WHAT THE PROPOSAL CONTAINS.
            /////ZIEGLER ACTUALITY/////
         IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CONCERNS WITH 
         REGARD TO THE CHINESE PROPOSAL.  AND WE HAVE, IN TURN, 
         OUTLINED A NUMBER OF IDEAS THAT WE THINK WOULD PROVIDE A
         CONSTRUCTIVE BASIS TO MAKE PROGRESS IN THE NEGOTIATIONS,
         AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS OVER THE COURSE OF 
         THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD
            /////END ACTUALITY/////
PRESIDENT CLINTON IS SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN CHINA THURSDAY FOR A 
NINE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT.  BUT -- ACCORDING TO U-S AND CHINESE 
OFFICIALS -- THERE IS LITTLE LIKELIHOOD AN AGREEMENT ON CHINA'S 
BID TO JOIN THE W-T-O WILL BE STRUCK BY THEN.
CHINESE OFFICIALS SAY THEIR COUNTRY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO JOIN THE
W-T-O AS A DEVELOPING NATION, WITH MORE FAVORABLE TERMS THAN 
THOSE APPLYING TO INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES.  U-S OFFICIALS SAY 
THEY SUPPORT CHINA'S BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZATION BUT 
ONLY ON WHAT MR. ZIEGLER DESCRIBES AS "COMMERCIALLY MEANINGFUL" 
TERMS.
            /////ZIEGLER ACTUALITY/////
         CHINA HAS CONSISTENTLY POINTED OUT THAT THEY ARE A 
         DEVELOPING COUNTRY, AND IF YOU LOOK AT CHINA FROM A PER 
         CAPITA INCOME LEVEL, WE'RE CERTAINLY RECEPTIVE TO THAT. 
         BUT CHINA IS THE WORLD'S FOURTH-LARGEST ECONOMY TODAY 
         AND TRADES AS A MAJOR WORLD EXPORTER.  AND SO CLEARLY IT
         IS IMPORTANT TO BRING CHINA INTO THE W-T-O UNDER TERMS 
         THAT RECOGNIZE THAT STATUS.
            /////END ACTUALITY/////
MR. ZIEGLER SAYS MRS. BARSHEFSKY AND MR. SHI ARE CONTINUING TO 
DISCUSS HOW BEST TO OPEN THE CHINESE MARKET TO U-S AGRICULTURAL 
PRODUCTS AS WELL AS TO OTHER AMERICAN GOODS AND SERVICES.  
(SIGNED)
NEB / WD / WD
20-Jun-98 5:16 AM EDT (0916 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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