German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder expressed Monday his welcome to China's upcoming entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).
"This is a long-cherished wish (of China) and also of Germany," Schroeder said at the opening ceremony of the Asia-Pacific-Weeks in Berlin.
He noted that the entry would strengthen the international exchange of products and commercial services.
The last hurdles for the entry were cleared away later last week in Geneva where the WTO is based. The 15-year-long negotiations over China's joining the world trade body will be declared to end officially Monday afternoon.
A WTO ministerial conference in Doha, Qatar, will make the official decision of admitting China into the organization in November.
China has caught the limelight in the third Asia-Pacific-Weeks with cultural and economic programs this year. The biyearly event aims at introducing countries in the Asia-Pacific region to the German public and helping create commercial links.
China and Germany have an "exemplary" economic relationship, Chinese Information Minister Zhao Qizheng said at the opening ceremony in Berlin.
Germany's investment projects in China are known for their high technical standard and the good quality of their products, said Zhao.
(People's Daily 09/18/2001)
