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.