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Japan Welcomes U.S. Senate's Passage of China Trade Bill
Japan welcomed Wednesday the U.S. Senate's passage of a bill on permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with China.
"We welcome it as a move to give momentum to China's bid to enter the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to further move forward U.S.-China relations," Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono said in a statement.
Kono also expressed the hope that China will be a constructive partner in the international community, and pledged Japan will continue cooperation with other nations to help China join the WTO.
The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill Tuesday afternoon.
China and the United States reached an agreement on China's entry into the WTO last November. The deal requires the U.S. to give China PNTR status.
Following the Senate's approval of the trade bill, which has already cleared the House of Representatives, the legislation will become law after it is signed by U.S. President Bill Clinton.
Prior to the passage of the bill, the U.S. Congress had to renew China's normal trade relations status every year.
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