DATE=3/29/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247337
TITLE=CHINA / U-S / TRADE (L)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THERE ARE SIGNALS OF PROGRESS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES
AND CHINA ON BEIJING'S APPLICATION TO ENTER THE WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATION. VOA'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS THE U-S TRADE
REPRESENTATIVE IS ON AN UNSCHEDULED TRIP TO CHINA, WHILE THE U-S
COMMERCE SECRETARY IS IN BEIJING MEETING WITH CHINESE LEADERS.
TEXT: AMERICAN OFFICIALS WOULD NOT SAY WHETHER A VISIT TO CHINA
BY U-S TRADE REPRESENTATIVE CHARLENE BARSHEFSKY SIGNALS A
BREAKTHROUGH IN DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN U-S AND CHINESE NEGOTIATORS,
ON BEIJING'S BID TO JOIN THE W-T-O.
OFFICIALS FROM BOTH COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN WORKING TO NARROW
DIFFERENCES IN KEY SECTORS -- SUCH AS AGRICULTURE, FINANCE AND
TELECOMMUNICATIONS.
MEANTIME, U-S COMMERCE SECRETARY WILLIAM DALEY MET WITH CHINESE
LEADERS IN BEIJING MONDAY AND HELPED PRESIDE OVER THE SIGNING OF
SEVERAL TRADE DEALS. HE SAYS CHINESE PREMIER ZHU RONGJI
INDICATED THAT BEIJING IS WILLING TO WORK WITH WASHINGTON.
// DALEY ACT //
I WOULD SAY THAT WE ARE ALL CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT A DEAL
CAN BE DONE. BUT AS WITH ANY GOOD NEGOTIATIONS, SOMETIMES THE
MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES ARE LEFT TILL THE VERY END.
// END ACT //
MR. DALEY NOTES THERE WAS SPECULATION THAT CHINA WAS ON THE VERGE
OF COMPLETING A W-T-O DEAL PRIOR TO THE LAST TWO SUMMIT MEETINGS
BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN.
THE U-S COMMERCE SECRETARY SAYS IF THE DEAL IS RIGHT, THE U-S
ADMINISTRATION WILL MOVE FORWARD. BUT HE REPEATED SKEPTICISM
THAT AN AGREEMENT WOULD BE REACHED BEFORE CHINESE PREMIER ZHU
GOES TO THE UNITED STATES NEXT WEEK.
// DALEY ACT //
I DON'T NECESSARILY BELIEVE, AS I SAID YESTERDAY, THAT PEOPLE
SHOULD LOOK AT THIS SUMMIT AS THE SORT OF LAST BITE OF THE APPLE
HERE ON MAKING SURE THAT CHINA GETS IN TO W-T-O ON THE RIGHT
TERMS.
// END ACT //
HE REFUSED TO DETAIL WHICH ISSUES REMAIN, BUT SAID U-S TRADE
REPRESENTATIVE BARSHEFSKY WILL HOLD INTENSE W-T-O NEGOTIATIONS
WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS IN THE COMING DAYS. (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/FC
29-Mar-99 6:25 AM EST (1125 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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