China hopes that countries concerned should understand China's stand during negotiations on the country's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) that it should join only as a developing country, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said in Beijing on November 11.

She stressed at a regular press conference that China is a universally acknowledged developing country, and should not undertake obligations unsuitable for such a status.

China's rights and obligations as a member of WTO should be given equal status, she said.

In addition, Zhang said that China's accession to the WTO is requested by China's own reform and opening process, and that a leading world trade body without China would be incomplete.

The spokeswoman declined to make any comment on the current round of WTO talks between China and the United States, which began here Wednesday.