China is seriously fulfilling its commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and has made great efforts to fit its role.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan made the remark Thursday in response to a question at a regular press conference, adding that China cannot accept such reported comment that it has not fully fulfilled its WTO commitments.

In fact, China has taken concrete steps, Kong said. First of all, China lowered its tariffs to the now 12 percent from 15.3 percent in 2001, abolished some non-tariff measures, and granted tariff rate quotas.

In the meantime, the service and commodity markets are opening in a careful and planned way. What's more important, China has clarified and revised relevant laws and regulations, which are now basically in accordance with the WTO rules and China's WTO commitments. China has also set up a reporting and consulting system to make its work more transparent, Kong said.

Currently, China is undergoing appraisal by the relevant WTO organizations, which was so far positive, Kong added.

He stressed that China has met with some problems and unexpected difficulties in fulfilling its WTO commitments, yet its stand and determination will not be weakened.

China is confident in doing a good job, and finding a balance between its rights and obligations within the WTO framework, Kong said.

(People’s Daily September 19, 2003)