| Sunday, November 11, 2001, updated at 21:03(GMT+8) |
HK Chief Executive Congratulates China's WTO Accession |
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Tung Chee Hwa, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, extended congratulations on China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Hong Kong Saturday evening.
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Tung Chee Hwa, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, extended congratulations on China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Hong Kong Saturday evening.
Following the formal approval of China's WTO membership at the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, Tung said in a statement that the approval of China's Protocol of Accession by the Ministerial Conference ushers in a new era in the development of the international multilateral trading system.
"As the world's most populous country and seventh biggest trading entity, China's WTO membership will make the organization a genuinely representative world body," he said. "The vast, booming market of its 1.3 billion population will add impetus to the economic growth of the world in the years and decades to come."
He noted that Hong Kong SAR proudly and fully shares the jubilation of China's accession and said, "We take pride in China's remarkable economic achievements and her continuous efforts in preparing for further integration with the global trading system."
"These will reinforce China's status as a major economic power in the 21st century. Hong Kong is well-placed to play a vital role in the growing mainland market," he said.
Antony Leung, financial secretary of the Hong Kong SAR, also warmly applauded the approval of China's WTO membership.
"The integration of China into the international economic system offers many new opportunities for both China and the rest of the world. This is particularly meaningful at a time when the global economy is experiencing a slowdown," said Leung.
"The further opening up of the mainland's markets will bring about more trading and business opportunities for Hong Kong. Hong Kong will also benefit from the more stable trade and economic relations between China and her trading partners that will result from her WTO accession," he added.
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