The November meeting of the World Trade Organisation in Qatar, approved the applications by China and Taiwan to join the organisation. China's trade minister, Shi Guangsheng, said that China was determined to play by WTO rules and that its membership would provide more and better opportunities for exporters and investors worldwide.
The full procedure for accession requires that the accord be approved by the legislature of the candidate country, but immediately after the signing ceremony China ratified the membership terms so that it would become a full member on December 11. However China will delay introduction of the measures agreed in the accession accord until January 1, 2002 in order to avoid chaos in the market, People's Daily said.