Chinese trade minister Shi Guangsheng said on January 25 that China hopes to reach a bilateral agreement with the European Union (EU) as soon as possible on China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).

However, China doesn't want to see that the EU would be the last one to sign a bilateral accord with China on China's accession to the WTO, said Shi, minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation, during his meeting with Ernest-Antoine Seilliere, chairman of the French Enterprises Movement.

Shi said that the EU has always supported China's entry into the WTO and hoped that the EU would demonstrates its support in concrete actions at a time that is crucial for China's accession.

Reaching an agreement at the earliest possible date is in the interests of both China and the EU, the minister added.

Shi stressed that China's entry into the WTO is necessary for its economic reforms and important for world trade as well. However, as a developing country, China can only make promises according to the level of its economic development. China will not under any circumstances compromise its fundamental interests to gaining entry into the WTO.

China will never make commitment to any country what it cannot promise though it will do its best to satisfy the specific requirements of some countries, he said.

From the very beginning, China has paid great attention to the talks with all WTO members, including the EU, the minister said.

Shi expressed his hope that current negotiation between China and the EU in Brussels could make major progress.