China's chief trade negotiator remains convinced that nothing can stop the country's final accession to World Trade Organisation membership, even though Beijing appears unwilling to budge on a key issue that stalled talks in Geneva last month.
'There are no substantial obstacles,' Long Yongtu said. 'It is just a matter of time.'
However, unlike on previous occasions, the usually outspoken and optimistic vice-minister of foreign trade and economic co-operation declined at a China development forum in Beijing yesterday to estimate the date of China's entry into the trade group.
'It does not matter in what month China joins,' he said while describing China's entry a 'historical event'.
Mr Long said China was not completely in control of the timing of its final entry, which would require co-ordination between all parties.
He hinted that the change of leadership in the White House was delaying the process.
'We will initiate another round of talks to finally settle the substantive issues so that the negotiation can finally enter the procedural stage,' he said.
