China hopes its WTO accession will be accelerated with the assistance of the director-general and the secretariat of the global trade body, said Shi Guangsheng, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Shi made the remarks while conferring with Mike Moore, visiting WTO director-general, in Beijing Friday morning.

Shi noted that China's negotiations with WTO members had apparently sped up following its agreement with the United States. Talks are also under way with a few other WTO members including

the European Union which have not yet signed a deal with China, he added.

As a responsible big country, China will, after joining the WTO, carry out all obligations under its framework, abide by its rules,and implement the bilateral and multilateral accords, while enjoying relevant rights as a WTO member, Shi stressed.

Opportunities and challenges alike will come to China after its WTO accession, he said.

The Chinese government is currently revising existing laws, regulations and policies in accordance with WTO rules, and making known to the public what WTO is and how its rules work, he added.

In reply, Moore said that the purpose of his Beijing tour was to express support and provide assistance for China's WTO entry on behalf of the WTO, the staff of the WTO Secretariat, and himself.

China's entry into the world trade body are beneficial to China, to all the countries in the world, and to WTO itself, Moore reiterated.

Moore said his goal is clear and he wishes China will become a WTO member at an early date so as to make it a real World Trade Organization.

Moore arrived here Thursday to start his 3-day visit to China at the invitation of Shi.