According to Long Yongtu, secretary-general of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), China has lived up well to its World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments. Over the past two years the process of opening up China's markets has rolled out according to timetable.

Long, a former Chinese chief representative to the WTO talks, believes that China has been the biggest winner in the WTO process, despite the not inconsiderable domestic reservations.

China was officially admitted into the WTO on December 11, 2001. This was after talks which had spanned several decades. Now on the second anniversary Long says, "Market entry has made an impact on China's economy and has increased the pace of domestic reform." In illustration he cites the term national treatment, "Ordinary Chinese people had not heard of national treatment prior to WTO entry. Now it appears frequently in newspapers and reports of high-level meetings. Under the principle of national treatment, foreign-funded enterprises, state-owned enterprises and private enterprise all have equality of treatment for land use, taxation, loans and so on."

On China's performance over the past two years, Long gives the nation top marks saying, "We have reduced tariffs and opened our services sector in line with WTO rules". But he also urges the Chinese government to further strengthen protection of intellectual property rights.

On the issue of the recent Sino-US trade frictions, Long recognizes the United States as a major driving force in the world economy and as playing an important role in international trade. It should shoulder its responsibilities by actively promoting multilateral trade talks. "Trade frictions are quite normal, and are not necessarily connected with China's WTO entry but should be solved under WTO rules," he said.

Last month China sent a purchasing delegation to the United States and signed US$6 billion worth of contracts with pledges of further action aimed at cutting the trade deficit. However, this represents only a small proportion of the total Sino-US trade volume, which exceeded US$100 billion in the first 10 months of the year.

"Trade issues should not be overstated nor should they be allowed to become entangled with political factors," Long cautioned.

(China.org.cn by Tang Fuchun, December 12, 2003)