Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue made the remark when asked to comment on reports that the US had formally announced PNTR status for China.

Zhang said the US' annual renewal of normal trade relations for China, the former most-favored-nation designation, has had a negative impact on the development of bilateral economic and trade relations.

The solution to the PNTR issue removed a big obstacle in bilateral economic and trade cooperation, thus creating conditions for the further steady and sound development of bilateral economic and trade relations, said Zhang.

She pointed out China, as a new member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), will strictly abide by WTO rules, and continuously strengthen economic and trade cooperation with all countries in the world, including the US, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

Zhang added China's position on this issue is firm, hoping both countries will make concerted efforts to create favorable conditions and environment for the development of bilateral economic and trade relations.

On Thursday, US President George W. Bush offered permanent normal trade status to China, a move he called "the final step in normalizing US-China relations."

The move, which will come into effect on January 1, was announced by Bush in Crawford, Texas, where he is spending holidays.

"This is the final step in normalizing US-China trade relations and welcoming China into a global, rules-based trading system," Bush said in an announcement.

Trade experts in Washington believe China's entry to the world trade body "to be globally important underpinning for the US-China bilateral relationship."

(China Daily December 29, 2001)