Statement by Foreign Minister Yohei Kono on the Conclusion of Bilateral Negotiations between the U.S.A. and China on China's Accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO)

November 15, 1999

I welcome the fact that the bilateral negotiations which have been held in Beijing between the U.S.A. and China on China's accession to the WTO have reached a substantial agreement.
Japan has been supporting an early accession of China into the WTO, since China's entry is also important in strengthening the WTO regime. Japan has already concluded its bilateral negotiations with China in July this year, when Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi visited the country, and has since urged the U.S. and other major WTO Members to reach an agreement in their bilateral negotiations at an early date. I am really pleased to know that the agreement has been reached between the U.S.A. and China at this time.
In order for China to officially join the WTO, China needs to finish the remaining bilateral negotiations with other WTO Members and the Protocol for China's accession needs to be finalized. I strongly hope that China's negotiations with other major countries will be accelerated and to see China's early accession to the WTO. Japan intends to extend further cooperation for that purpose.

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