US President George W. Bush congratulated President Jiang Zemin on China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), saying it was the result of the far-sighted thinking of Jiang and the Chinese Government.
In a telephone conversation around 8 pm Beijing time yesterday between the two presidents, Jiang said that China anticipated close co-operation with the US and wanted to work to expand Sino-US economic and trade co-operation.
Bush, in turn, said the United States would work closely with China to advance US-China relations. Bush also said maintaining communication is not only important for the US and China, but also for the world.
The two leaders also exchanged views condemning terrorism.
Chinese Taipei's accession
China welcomes the accession to World Trade Organization (WTO) of Chinese Taipei in the name of the "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Jinmen and Matsu," the spokespersons of China's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation (MOFTEC) and the Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) of the State Council said in a joint statement.
The accession to the WTO by Chinese Taipei will help economic development in Taiwan, the further development of economic co-operation and trade across the Taiwan Straits and serves the fundamental interests of all citizens in Taiwan, said Zhang Mingqing, spokesman of the TAO, and MOFTEC spokeswoman Gao Yan in the statement.
The fourth Ministerial Meeting of the WTO adopted the entry of Chinese Taipei on Sunday afternoon, following the adoption of China's entry on Saturday.
The two spokespersons said that following Taiwan's entry to the WTO, the trade relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits remain between China's mainland and its separate customs territory.
Economic co-operation and trade relations across the Taiwan Straits can only develop further within the framework of one China.
"We hope the Taiwan authorities recognize the one-China principle at an early date, take concrete measures to realize the three direct links (shipping, trade and postal service), and bring common economic prosperity to both sides of the Taiwan Straits," the spokespersons said.
(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2001)
