China has passed its annual trade policy assessment by the World
Trade Organization (WTO) on the first year of its membership, a
spokeswoman from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic
Cooperation (
MOFTEC) said in
Beijing on Friday.
Gao Yan said at a press conference that 16 WTO members began the
assessment on September 17 this year and completed it on December
10.
The review covered areas of China's fulfillment of its WTO
commitments including its trade policy and changes and transparency
in policy, trade-related investment, removal of trade restrictions,
intellectual property rights protection, opening of the service
trade and an increase of market access.
"The assessment was positive and constructive," Gao said. "China's
serious and responsible attitude and its work in carrying out its
commitments have won just and objective appraisal and
affirmation."
At
the meeting of the WTO General Council on December 10, Gao said a
total of 16 WTO members, including the United States, the European
Union, Japan, China's Taipei, and Switzerland, praised China for
its work in fulfilling commitments.
(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2002)