| Friday, November 09, 2001, updated at 15:41(GMT+8) |
Long Yongtu: Biggest Risk Lies in Ignorance of Rules |
 China has pulled through the hardest times for its entry into the World Trade Organization and will participate in multilateral talks while it is entering into the WTO. However, the biggest risk for China lies in its ignorance of the rules of the games, said Long Yongtu, Chinese chief WTO negotiator who arrived at Doha for the fourth WTO ministerial meeting.
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China will enter the WTO in coming Saturday, said Long Yongtu, Chinese chief WTO negotiator who arrived at Doha for the fourth WTO ministerial meeting. China has pulled through the hardest times for its entry into the World Trade Organization. Therefore, he was in the most relaxed and carefree mood to attend the coming meeting. China will participate in multilateral talks while it is entering into the WTO. However, Long thought, the biggest risk for China lies in its ignorance of the rules of the games.
Long said that China started to apply for WTO membership in 1986 and began the substantial negotiation in 1987. During the whole course of the negotiation, China met with the hardest time in its negotiations with the United States. For, according to Hong Kong media, it could be viewed a representative for over 100 members of the WTO in the negotiation with China concerning the opening of the market, said Long.
Long emphasized that the biggest risk for China's entry into the WTO is its ignorance of the rules. The hardest decision for China to make is that it must open service trade industry step by step in a conditional way. Instead of the common industry of food and drink, the service trade industry here includes telecom, banking, insurance, stock, commercial retail, tourism, sea, land and air transportation, accounting, lawyer's business, consultancy, advertisement, education, culture, external trade, etc. It has a much broader scale than the original conception as concerning only the tertiary industry.
Long noted that during the process of enlarging the opening, it is very important to keep alert against risks. However, the biggest risk lies not just in the opening, but in China's ignorance or unfamiliarity with the rules of games. If you do not know the rules, you have no idea about what you should do, and what you shouldn't.
Thereupon, Long regards the lack of making enough preparation as the biggest risk for entering the WTO. China should give priority to strengthening understanding and study on the system of market economy. China should work harder to learn international rules. Different industries of the country should adapt their concepts in accordance with their own characteristics instead of sticking to specific particulars. Only by doing so, can the country turn the challenges into opportunities.
China to Enter WTO on November 10: Long Yongtu
Chinese chief WTO negotiator and vice-minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation Long Yongtu said lately that China would formally join WTO on November 10. That is, in a week the 15-year efforts by Chinese people will be put to an end satisfactorily.
Our delegation in Geneva had received news from WTO headquarters that China's membership would be passed on November 10, and all legal documents will be signed by Chinese representatives the next day, says Long. After that, the Chinese government would publish all its promises made.
By PD Online staff member Du Minghua
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