DATE=11/11/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-WTO
NUMBER=5-44750
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: For the past 13-years, China has been trying
to join the World Trade Organization and its
predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade. Beijing has expended a great deal of effort on
this issue, but what does it stand to gain?
Correspondent Stephanie Ho has this background report
from the Chinese capital.
TEXT: Under what terms should China be admitted to
the W-T-O -- and should it happen in advance of the
world trade summit taking place at the end of this
month?
These are the issues that caused high-level U-S trade
negotiators to make a hastily-arranged trip to Beijing
to try to reach a last-minute agreement with their
Chinese counterparts.
Whether and when China will enter the global trade
body are still open questions. But one that is more
readily answered is why China wants to become a W-T-O
member.
China's W-T-O supporters believe joining the global
trade body would help accelerate reform of China's
state sector and attract more foreign investment.
At a regular briefing Thursday, Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue, speaking through an
interpreter, said the Chinese government believes W-T-
O membership will have a positive effect on the
country's economy.
// ZHANG INTERPRETER ACT //
I think joining [the] W-T-O reflects the needs
of furthering the reform and opening up policy.
// END ACT //
The Chinese spokeswoman added he believes the W-T-O
will also benefit from Beijing's membership.
// ZHANG INTERPRETER ACT //
I also believe the W-T-O also needs China.
Without such a big country like China in [the]
W-T-O, [the] W-T-O cannot be complete as an
organization.
// END ACT //
The Vice-Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce
in Beijing, John Sullivan, says his organization is
anxious to see W-T-O membership for China. He
believes it is critically important for the 600-
American companies in the Chamber.
Mr. Sullivan says the group presented a letter
Wednesday to Chinese president Jiang Zemin, expressing
its belief that China's economy would develop more
rapidly within the W-T-O framework.
// SULLIVAN ACT //
W-T-O is important from the standpoint that it
provides, in essence, a road map for progress --
for both Chinese companies and foreign companies
that are doing business here in China.
// END ACT //
He says having these guidelines would help boost
investor confidence in China.
// SULLIVAN ACT //
One of the reasons for that is that it would
provide, ultimately, what would be a stable and
predictable climate for growth.
// END ACT //
Mr. Sullivan adds another important aspect for
American companies is better access to the Chinese
market.
// SULLIVAN ACT //
It would enable U-S companies to export products
to China that, to this point, they would not be
able to or it has been difficult for them to do
so.
// END ACT //
Greater access to Chinese markets for foreign
telecommunications, auto, and financial-services
companies are some issues that remain to be resolved
before China joins the W-T-O. Other points of
disagreement include textile quotas and anti-dumping
measures. (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/FC/RAE
11-Nov-1999 07:16 AM EDT (11-Nov-1999 1216 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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