Multilateral Talks on WTO Access Kick OffChina has begun multilateral negotiations for its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and expects to become a member of the global trade body within the year, according to a senior foreign trade official.Addressing a press conference Sunday, Hu Chusheng, director of the General Office of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation, said China had basically completed its bilateral talks for WTO entry. China is now working with Mexico on bilateral trade pacts, the last hurdle between the world's most populous nation and the world's largest trade organization. After more than 13 years of hard work and negotiations, China has now signed agreements with all 37 WTO members except Mexico, including the United States, European Union countries, Japan, Canada and Australia. Hu said China intends to fulfil its commitments to the WTO when it becomes a full member, and it hopes other nations and regions will do the same. At a meeting in Beijing between Shi Guangsheng, Minister of MOFTEC, and Barshefsky, chief trade representative of the United States, China's entry to the WTO and Sino-US economic relations were discussed, Hu said. Hu said the negotiations were positive and constructive. (Source: chinadaily.com.cn) |
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