China, as an applicant for the World Trade Organization (WTO) membership, should enjoy the outcomes in opening market, lowering tariffs and reducing other trade barriers as WTO members do, while making commitments and fulfilling its obligations in the areas, degree and pace of market openness through negotiation.

"Generally speaking, obligations should be equal to rights, and we will not accept demands beyond our capability, instead achieve a basic balance between rights and obligations," says a signed article carried by February 11's People's Daily.

China has adhered to the principle of a balance between rights and obligations since 1986, when it began negotiations on applying for the restoration of a membership in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and joining the WTO, says the article, entitled Correctly Apprehending the Balance Between Rights and Obligations in China's Entry to WTO.

China has followed such a principle and reached "win-win" agreements with more than 20 countries on its entry to the WTO, thus safeguarding national interests and reflecting WTO's request, it says.

According to the principle, it adds, China will enjoy the most- favored-nation trading status in a multilateral, stable and unconditional manner and outcomes of trade liberalization, participate in setting down international trade regulations, and safeguard its national rights and interests by using WTO multilateral trade dispute settlement mechanism as soon as it joins the global trading system. On the other hand, China should fulfill its obligations, including following the WTO regulations in making laws and regulations, increasing transparency, reducing administrative intervention, gradually lowering tariffs and eliminating non- tariff measures and gradually opening the service industry, it notes.

China's membership in the WTO and adherence to WTO's regulations and fulfillment of market openness commitments will provide better and more stable market access opportunities for its trading partners, the article says, adding that investment areas will be further expanded, foreign-invested enterprises will gradually enjoy national treatment, and investment environment will be more favorable, transparent and stable.

Meanwhile, WTO members should fulfill their obligations for China, thus laying a stable basis for the growth of economic and trade relations between China and other countries.

More Chinese enterprises and products will enter others' markets conveniently after it joins the WTO, while providing greater market access for other WTO members, it says.

China should participate in formulating international multilateral trading regulations, while it is restricted by such regulations and adapts relevant laws, regulations and policies.

Moreover, China can use dispute settlement mechanism of the World Trade Organization to seek a fair settlement of trade dispute, while following its arbitrament, the article says.