DATE=8/25/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-US
NUMBER=2-253102
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Chinese news media are hinting that Beijing
remains interested in joining the World Trade
Organization before the end of the year, despite a
halt in crucial China-U-S talks on the subject
following the NATO bombing of China's embassy in
Yugoslavia. VOA correspondent Roger Wilkison reports
on the latest signs of a thaw in China-U-S relations.
TEXT: Despite the problems caused by the bombing of
its embassy, Beijing continues to consult with
Washington on a whole range of matters, from the Year
2000 computer glitch to stability on the Korean
peninsula. The latest high U-S official to visit
Beijing is Assistant Secretary of State for
International Organization Affairs David Welch. Mr.
Welch told reporters Wednesday after discussions with
his Chinese counterpart Wang Guangya that the two
countries have an ongoing dialogue on issues related
to the United Nations.
/// WELCH ACTUALITY ///
It's my view that that contributes to supporting
our policy of engagement and to rebuilding the
dialogue that we would like to have with the
Chinese government.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
The Americans are not alone in detecting an end to
the four-month hiatus in relations. In the latest
sign from the Chinese side that Beijing also wants to
get back to business, the state-controlled Financial
Daily newspaper Wednesday said there is hope for re-
starting W-T-O talks amid what it called warming
bilateral ties. The newspaper reeled off a list of
positive developments in China-US relations, including
Washington's decision to continue normal trading
relations with China, U-S efforts to restrain Taiwan
after the island said it wanted to be treated by
Beijing as an equal, and an exchange of messages
between Presidents Clinton and Jiang Zemin after the
Women's World Cup football final.
The Financial Daily did not mention China's
longstanding demand to be admitted to the W-T-O as a
developing country. That demand, which would allow
Beijing easier than normal entry terms, has been a
stumbling block in previous negotiations.
The report in the Financial Daily came a day after
another periodical, the China Trade News, quoted
Beijing's chief W-T-O negotiator as saying the day
China joins the group should not be far away. Long
Yongtu reportedly told a recent seminar that China has
more to gain than to lose in acceding to the body that
sets worldwide trade rules. But neither Chinese
officials nor US diplomats could confirm any schedule
for the renewal of trade talks.
Chinese and foreign diplomats agree that the key to
getting the relationship -- and the W-T-O talks --
back on track, will come when Presidents Clinton and
Jiang meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
forum in New Zealand next month. (Signed)
NEB/RW/FC/KL
25-Aug-1999 07:12 AM EDT (25-Aug-1999 1112 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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