In talks with US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, who is in China at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC), Shi said it was vital for both sides to handle bilateral trade and economic relations properly.

As important trade and investment partners, China and the United States were strongly complementary with regard to markets, resources, technology and funds, which explained the continued development of Sino-US trade and economic relations, Shi said.

The Chinese government had been earnestly implementing its commitments on World Trade Organization entry in a responsible and all-round way, which had been widely acknowledged by WTO members, he said.

Despite the efforts of all sides after the Doha meeting, the multilateral trade negotiations had met various obstacles due to differences among its members, Shi said.

China insistently advocated trade liberalization, and hoped the negotiations would be boosted along the lines of the Doha agenda, he said.

China wished to join other WTO members, including the United States, in striving for such progress in new round negotiations as well as for a just, fair and reasonable new international economic order, he said.

Zoellick briefed Shi on the "mini-ministerial" WTO meeting held last week in Tokyo, speaking highly of China's implementation of WTO undertakings. He expressed his hope that China would play an active role in making progress in the new round negotiations.

(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2003)