China wants to join WTO as developing nation

China wants to join WTO as developing nation

BEIJING (Reuter): Premier Li Peng said yesterday China would not accept entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO) as a developed country since its economy was still too backward to meet such criteria.

"It is unrealistic and unfair to demand China meet the standards of developed countries," Li told visiting Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland.

China was working actively to join the WTO and was willing to shoulder obligations in line with its level of economic development, Li said.

"China is able to gradually meet the WTO requirements in terms of tariffs," Xinhua news agency quoted Li as saying.

After a decade of effort, China was rebuffed in 1994 in a final drive to rejoin the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade so as to be present at the birth of the WTO, which succeeded the GATT on January 1.

The United States, the European Union, Japan and Canada have blocked its drive, saying China was not eligible to enter on the concessionary terms given to weak developing countries due to its export prowess and global export market share.

"China is a developing country with a large population but a poor economic foundation," Li said. "Despite rapid economic development in recent years, its per capita Gross National Product and national income remain low compared with developed countries.

"We hope that Norway will continue to support China's effort in this regard," he said.

Brundtland said Norway would support China's accession to the WTO since this would benefit all parties, Xinhua reported.