DATE=4/7/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-US-TRADE (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261041
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S Commerce Secretary William Daley is ending
the first of two visits to China that he is making
this month. VOA correspondent Roger Wilkison says Mr.
Daley has tried to reassure Chinese leaders that the
Clinton Administration is doing everything it can to
win U-S congressional backing of permanent trading
rights for China in the United States.
TEXT: Congressional approval of permanent normal
trading relations, or P-N-T-R, for China is a crucial
component of last November's U-S-China trade
agreement. As part of the pact, Washington gave a
green light to (endorsed) Beijing's membership in the
W-T-O. P-N-T-R is expected to be approved by the U-S
Senate, but it faces opposition in the House of
Representatives, where it has come under fire from
legislators concerned about China's human rights
situation as well as the potential loss of U-S jobs
that the legislation might lead to. Until now,
China's trade status has been subject to annual
reviews.
After meeting with top Chinese leaders, including
President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji, Mr.
Daley told reporters the Clinton Administration is
making every effort to ensure that the vote in the
lower house, six weeks from now, will be successful.
/// DALEY ACTUALITY ///
We're working very, very hard. Our system is
such that the Executive Branch does not
guarantee this, but we are confident that, when
the people see the benefits to P-N-T-R, the
Congress will pass it.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Mr. Daley says the pledges China has made to open its
market to U-S goods and services should answer some of
the concerns of wavering American lawmakers. The
Commerce Secretary will be returning to China next
week with at least 15 legislators who are still
undecided how to vote.
/// 2nd DALEY ACTUALITY ///
This vote is about the overall relationship, not
just the economic relationship with China. The
commitments made under the W-T-O agreement are
rather substantial, and we believe -- strongly
believe -- that the continuing opening and
change will help not only the economic
relationship but the other relationships and
political issues like human rights that are
important.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Chinese Foreign Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng says
Beijing is emphasizing the importance of winning
permanent low-tariff status in the United States.
/// SHI ACTUALITY (IN CHINESE) ///
Mr. Shi says the two sides must ensure that the
November agreement is properly implemented. That, he
says, is China's main goal.
Mr. Daley is also urging China to deregulate the
Internet. In a speech to a conference on electronic
commerce, he gently chided Beijing for maintaining
strict control over the flow of online information,
saying the Internet's success in the United States has
been due to minimal government regulation.
/// DALEY ACTUALITY ///
Some people believe we should try to control the
Internet by restricting access to content,
licensing providers of information, or
registering users. I believe that, by
empowering people, by giving them access to
information from all over the world, by allowing
them almost instant access to customers,
contacts and clients from all over the world, we
allow them to unlock their own individual
potential.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Mr. Daley says Chinese citizens could use the power of
the Internet to create new products and new services
that will benefit not only themselves but also their
clients. He says governments should encourage use of
the Internet instead of trying to limit it. (Signed)
NEB/RW/FC/KL
07-Apr-2000 06:58 AM EDT (07-Apr-2000 1058 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
