Major Democrat and Republican presidential contenders in the United States have expressed support for China's entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and for giving the country permanent Normal Trade Relations(NTR), according to a regular survey of the candidates on campaign issues by the Associated Press.

Vice President Al Gore, one of the two leading presidential candidates in the Democratic Party, said that the agreement reached with China on its accession to WTO includes measures that would strengthen US ability to assure fair trade and to defend its agricultural and manufacturing base from import surges, unfair pricing and abusive investment practices.

Gore also voiced his backing for granting China permanent NTR through accession to the World Trade Organization.

"Failure to grant China permanent normal trade relations will put American farmers and factories at a vast disadvantage with respect to Europe and Japan and hurt our ability to enforce China's commitments in the WTO," he said.

Bill Bradley, another Democrat hopeful, echoed Gore's call for enhanced trade status with China.

"It is in America's interest to grant China normal trade status on a permanent rather than annual basis because it would make China a more reliable trading partner and provide greater access to the Chinese market for American companies. This will create new and better jobs for America's workers and farmers," he said.

Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush said he supports permanent NTR for China as part of China's admission to the WTO, since it will provide American businesses and farmers access to China's growing market and narrow US trade deficit with China.

He pledged to work hard to ensure that American exporters get the full benefit of China's market-opening commitments.

John McCain, another Republican heavy-weight candidate, stressed that maintaining economic and diplomatic relations with China serves the US national interests, and shutting China off from the world economy would have the negative effect of turning China inward.

"As a result of its participation in the WTO, China will have to abide by the organization's standards governing international trade, and there will be enforcement mechanisms available to ensure that China does so," he said.

Republican candidate Orrin Hatch said he backs up NTR for China and China's admission to the WTO under appropriate terms. "America's farmers and manufacturers would greatly benefit from increased trade relations with China," he added.

Meanwhile, Reform Party leader Pat Buchanan and Republican candidates Steve Forbes, Gary Bauer and Alan Keyes said they are opposed to giving China Permanent NTR, linking the trade status with such issues as human rights and Taiwan.

The Associated Press conducts a regular campaign survey by asking the major presidential candidates one question each time, three days a week, on issues concerned by the nation, and the current question is related to whether China should be granted permanent normal trade status with the United States. (Xinhua)