PRESS RELEASE
PRESS/232
21 June 2001
(01-3105)
MOORE WELCOMES CHINA-EU AGREEMENT ON CHINESE ACCESSION TO WTO
GENEVA – World Trade Organization Director-G eneral Mike Moore praised Chinese and EU
negotiators for reaching agreement on unresolved bi lateral issues concerning China's accession to the
WTO.
Mr. Moore congratulated Chinese Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng, EU Trade Commissioner
Pascal Lamy and their respective negotiating teams for bringing China a significant step closer tomembership in the WTO.
"The EU-China accord is another step towards China's membership in our organization. This
together with the US-China agreement reached earlier in the month has given China's bid for
membership new momentum. I remain hopeful that a decision can be taken on China's membership atour Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar this November," Mr. Moore said.
The Director-General again urged all governments participating in the Working Party on
China's accession to make every effort to resolve outstanding matters when the they meet in Geneva
from 28 June to 4 July.
He said it was important that the key players work quickly to translate negotiating progress
into multilaterally viable texts and other related data for the information and approval of WTO
members. The meeting next week provides an opportunity for just such progress, he said.
END