SG/SM/7556

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES UNITED STATES MOVE TO ESTABLISH NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS WITH CHINA

The following statement was issued today by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the United States Senate�s passage of the bill establishing permanent normal trade relations with China. This is an important step towards China�s ultimate membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and thus, towards a fuller integration of countries into the rule-based multilateral trading system.

Trade is an important engine for growth and development. To serve development, the trading system needs to be open, equitable, secure, non-discriminatory and predictable.

The Secretary-General stresses the importance of greater universality of the international trading system and welcomes all measures that will assist the full integration of those countries seeking accession into that system.

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United Nations