Chinese authorities were bullish on the first anniversary of membership of the World Trade Organisation yesterday despite complaints by foreign partners that Beijing has been slower than promised in opening its markets.
The acting chief of the United Nations Trade Development and Trade Efficiency Bureau, Li Zhongzhou, said China's WTO membership was boosting trade.
Economic planners expected total foreign trade to hit US$600 billion (HK$4.6 trillion) for the year, with foreign investment hitting a record US$50 billion.
Mr Li said much of the impact of WTO membership on Chinese industry, jobs and agriculture had yet to be felt.
'Such impacts might gradually emerge at a later stage, therefore state-owned enterprises should continue their structural reforms to meet international standards.'
But he believed China's service, tourism and information technology sectors would reach new levels with the continuing influx of foreign capital.
Deputy Finance Minister Jin Liqun said this year's record trade figures were not attained easily as 'some industries in the country had suffered difficulties'.
