Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : The New Qualcomm - a S&P500 company -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sawtooth who wrote (1383)	9/10/1999 10:50:00 AM
From: bananawind	Respond to of 13582

China WTO Talks to Resume AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) - The United States and China agreed Thursday to restart negotiations on Chinese entry into the World Trade Organization, brightening the atmosphere for a presidential summit after four months of strained ties. The most senior U.S. and Chinese trade negotiators hashed out the decision in an unexpectedly lengthy three-hour meeting. Both skipped a dinner for trade ministers attending the Pacific Rim free-trade forum. "The discussion underscored the desire to re-engage in substantive discussions," U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky said in brief remarks afterward. "That in itself is progress." "We are willing to work together to conclude negotiations at an early date and bring China into the WTO at an early date," Chinese trade minister Shi Guangsheng said in comments a few minutes later. Barshefsky said the two set no deadline, and neither provided details on their meeting nor said when more talks would be held. As small a step forward as it was, their decision demonstrated a willingness by both governments to put the acrimony of the last four months behind them. After U.S. planes bombed the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia in May, relations unraveling for months plummeted further. China suspended contacts on human rights, arms controls, military affairs and the WTO, and it demanded U.S. redress for the bombing -- which Beijing believes was deliberate, but Washington claims was accidental. In recent weeks, diplomatic efforts to repair ties have quickened ahead of Saturday's meeting between President Clinton and Chinese President Jiang Zemin before a summit of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan held a 90-minute discussion over breakfast Thursday on restoring the severed dialogues. "There was a clear desire on both sides to see a significant improvement in relations," a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity. Tang attempted to pressure Albright for concessions on Taiwan, telling reporters the island remained the biggest stumbling block to better China-U.S. ties. Fears about a war between China and Taiwan have risen the past few months after the Taiwanese president likened their relations to those between equal states. Beijing, which claims Taiwan as a renegade province, threatened to retake the island by force and has tried to determine Washington's response. Albright repeated to Tang that Washington acknowledges China's claim to Taiwan but wants to see the dispute settled peacefully, the senior administration official said. Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.