The priority of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) this year is to support China in entering the World Trade Organization, Richard Kahler, newly-elected chairman of the AmCham, said on January 20.

"Over the next several months, visits by individual AmCham members and a large AmCham delegation to Washington will present our position formally: China needs to be in the WTO," said Kahler,who is the president of Caterpillar China, in his inaugural speech.

"The world trade scene needs China to be a formal part of its structure," he said.

Kahler urged Washington to remove its remaining roadblock -- the granting of permanent normal trading rights -- so that the process of China's entry into the WTO can move forward.

AmCham, a non-profit organization established in 1969, has set its mission as fostering the development of commerce between the U.S., Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific Region.

The 2,400-member organization elects its chairman every year.