Japan welcomes China's pending accession to WTO

Asian Political News, Sept 24, 2001

TOKYO, Sept. 18 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING FOREIGN MINISTER TANAKA'S COMMENT)

Japanese Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka said Monday she ''heartily welcomes'' the adoption in Geneva by a World Trade Organization (WTO) working group of a set of documents on conditions to allow China to join the 142-member body.

''Japan has consistently supported the early accession of China into the WTO. We hope that China's membership, following the necessary procedures, will promote reforms of the country's economy and lead to further prosperity and stability of the world,'' Tanaka said in a statement.

Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Takeo Hiranuma expressed hopes dthat China's anticipated admission to the WTO will help solve the two countries' trade dispute, following the adoption of admission terms.

''We expect that various problems arising as trade relations intensify between Japan and China, including the current one, will be solved in a constructive way under WTO and other international rules,'' Hiranuma said in a statement.

''Having China, the world's ninth largest in terms of trade, join the WTO is very significant for strengthening the body's free trade regime,'' Hiranuma said.

''In addition, it brings large benefits to both Japan and China that reins of common international rules will be established over bilateral trade relations,'' he said.

China is set to receive formal approval at the WTO ministerial conference scheduled in November in Doha, Qatar, for its entry into the world trade body.

Thereafter, it will have to undergo domestic procedures to accept the WTO agreement and will become a member 30 days after notifying the trade body of its acceptance of the pact.

Beijing has tried since 1986 to join the international body's predecessor, the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade, and then the WTO.