Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Shen Guofang expressed the hope on Dec.12, 1996 that all members of the World Trade Organization will adopt a pragmatic approach and consider economic and trade factors rather than political and ideological factors with regard to China's entry into the WTO.

The obstruction to China's entry into the WTO comes mainly from certain countries and the interference to the reinstitution is political and ideological consideration, although most countries expect China to be reinstated, he added.

Shen reiterated China's belief that it can only join the organization as a developing country, and will not sacrifice this principle merely for membership's sake.

China qualifies for WTO membership completely as far as economy and trade are concerned, since China's more than a decade of reforms have brought many parts of its economic and trade structure in line with international practices, he noted.

China would like to join the WTO, he said, and that that will make the organization more complete. But, even if it is kept outside the organization, China will continue its reform drive and increase bilateral trade, and the WTO and certain countries will suffer as a result.