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WTO Chief: China Can Join Us By November
GENEVA, Apr. 26, 1999 -- (Reuters) The head of the World Trade Organization said in an interview published on Monday he believed China could join the body before November.
Director-General Renato Ruggiero told the International Herald Tribune he had detected "encouraging signs" since a recent visit to Washington by Chinese premier Zhu Rongji.
"I think that since the visit by China's prime minister there have been many encouraging signs and I believe we can have China in the WTO by November, when the WTO begins its next trade round in agriculture, services and electronic commerce," he told the newspaper's Monday edition.
Ruggiero's comments were published as Chinese and European Union negotiators began talks on Monday in Beijing over China's application to join the Geneva-based organization.
The Chinese premier just failed to clinch a deal with the United States during talks with President Bill Clinton earlier this month.
Ruggiero's comments may cheer Chinese leaders but the Italian's role in any entry process will probably soon be marginal at best. He is due to step down from the director-general's position at the end of this week.
WTO member states have not yet agreed who should take over from Ruggiero in the post. The two remaining candidates are Mike Moore of New Zealand, a former prime minister, and Thai Deputy Prime Minister Supachai Panitchpakdi.
"Governments have to find a solution. It would be very damaging if a solution is not found. We need a new D-G as soon as possible," Ruggiero told the Tribune, also stressing he would not agree to stay on any longer in the post.
Ruggiero did not specify what he saw as "encouraging signs" in China's application to join the WTO.
Zhu had made dramatic market-opening concessions in the hope of clinching a deal in Washington. The U.S. has said it hopes to find an agreement to get China into the WTO this year.
Though Zhu's concessions in Washington were not enough to convince the United States immediately, analysts say they could at least be making gaining EU support easier.
EU Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on May 5 for a two-day visit to announce a deal that would pave China's way into the world trade body, an EU diplomat has said. US$ = HK$7.7500, 8.2784 yuan, T$32.7500, 0.9427 Euro ( (c) 1999 Reuters)
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