SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES CHINA, UNITED STATES FOR TRADE AGREEMENT
Press Release
SG/SM/7218
SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES CHINA, UNITED STATES FOR TRADE AGREEMENT
19991115Following is the text of the statement by Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued today:
I wish to express my heartfelt congratulations to both China and the United States for the agreement which they have just concluded. I hope that the separate negotiations between China and the European Union, Canada and others will be handled expeditiously and successfully.
This is a major step towards the culmination of China's long-standing efforts to resume its rightful role in the multilateral trading system, and to the achievement of universality of the system itself.
Now that China is on the verge of joining the World Trade Organization, I am hopeful that the Seattle conference will be successful and will lead to full access to the world market for developing countries.
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