DATE=9/9/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=APEC - CHINA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-253680
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=AUCKLAND,NEW ZEALAND
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
Intro: On the fringes of an economic summit in New
Zealand, top trade officials from the United States
and China have agreed to reopen suspended talks on
Beijing's bid for World Trade Organisation membership.
As Amy Bickers reports from Auckland ministers of 21
Asia-Pacific countries, including the United States
and China, are meeing Friday to agree on a framework
for negotiations on freeing world markets.
Text: The United States and China are jumpstarting
talks on China's wish to join the World Trade
Organisation. U-S Trade Representative Charlene
Barshefsky met with her Chinese counterpart Shi
(prono: sure) Guangsheng Thursday at the Apec forum in
New Zealand and said that their talks underscored the
desire to re-engage in substantive discussion.
Earlier Ms. Barshefsky told reporters that the United
States hoped to bring China into the 134-member trade
body on "commercially meaningful terms."
/// BARSHEVSKY ACTUALITY ///
We have always supported accesion on the
earliest practicable basis, provided the
accessions, whether China's, Taiwan's or the
former Soviet Republics are on commerically
meaningful terms. We have said a number of times
that the WTO is not a political institution. It
is very much a dollars and sense insitution
under which member make market opening
commitments of essentially a contractual nature.
/// END ACT ///
Ties between Beijing and Washington have been strained
because of NATO's mistakenly bombing in May of the
Chinese embassy in Belgrade. Dialogue was suspended on
a number of issues, and WTO negotiations involving
China were brought to a standstill.
Ms. Barshefsky says the United States and China have
not agreed on a specific timeline to work through
their differences but says that both sides will work
to resolve issues in a mutually agreeable manor.
/// BARSHEVSKY ACTUALITY ///
I think it is important that the United States
and China begin talking again. As you know
relations over the last four months have been
difficult. So first and foremost rengagement
between the United States and China on a full
range of issues is terribly important and would
in and of itself constitute a significant
outcome.
/// END ACT ///
The meeting between the two trade officials, as well
as a Thursday meeting between U-S Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright and her Chinese counterpart, are
creating a positive tone for talks Saturday between
U.S. President Bill Clinton and Chinese President
Jiang Zemin.
Meanwhile, ministers from 21 Asia-Pacific economies
are spending Friday in discussions to reach a common
position for the upcoming round of global trade talks.
They are hoping to be able to set the agenda for talks
taking place in Seattle (Washington State)in November
under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation.
(Signed)
NEB/PT
09-Sep-1999 22:17 PM LOC (10-Sep-1999 0217 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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