"Some members are trying to seize the opportunity to profiteer in this last phase, I don't think many people will appreciate this,'' said Chinese Foreign Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng on Wednesday in Tokyo. But he did not name the members.

According to a report from the China News Service, Shi said the day that China joins the WTO is "not far off.''

Switzerland and Mexico are the only two out of the 37 WTO members which have not clinched agreements with China on its accession to the WTO.

Earlier this week, the Mexican government announced its firm support for China to enter the WTO and the two countries are expected to sign a deal very soon.

Shi said the world can be assured that China will keep its promises after it joins the trade organization because China is a "responsible country'' and joining the WTO meets China's demand for further opening and reform.

China also hopes other WTO members will fulfil their duties and create a fair competition environment for Chinese products and services to enter international market, Shi said.

He noted that China, with establishment of its market economy and pending WTO entry, will apply economic principles and its own laws to stage anti-dumping regulations on foreign products which bring losses to domestic manufacturers.

Shi admitted that as a developing country, China is sure to meet difficulties and challenges in the early stages of WTO membership. But China is fully prepared.

The minister predicted that China's foreign trade volume will hit US$400 billion this year.

China reaped US$216.6 in foreign trade in the first half of this year.Between January and June, China's exports rose 38.3 per cent year-on-year to US$114.5 billion while imports grew by 36.2 per cent to US$102.1 billion.

The country's foreign trade will develop "rapidly'' in the short term and "steadily'' in the long run, the minister said.

(China Daily)