A worker walks by an advertisement featuring a model in Beijing May 11, 2001. Advertising spending in China is expected to continue growing briskly aided by foreign firms boosting their advertising and promotion spending on the local market ahead of China's World Trade Organization entry.

CMC/CC

A Chinese woman and her son share a light moment against a backdrop of a poster of U.S. athlete Marion Jones advertising a U.S. sports good manufacturer in Beijing May 6, 2001. Advertising spending in China is expected to continue growing briskly after rising 36 percent to 80 billion yuan ($9.6 billion) last year compared to 1999, aided by foreign firms boosting their advertising and promotion spending on the local market ahead of China's World Trade Organization entry.

ASW

Chinese women pass by an advertisement that uses the United States flag in front of a department store in Haikou, Hainan Island April 8, 2001. [In the aftermath of this week's U.S. spy plane incident, Beijing-based American businessmen are waiting anxiously to see if talks on China's entry into the World Trade Organization will be delayed. The United States was China's second biggest trading partner last year with almost $75 billion worth of bilateral trade.]

Chinese women pass by an advertisement that uses the United States flag in front of a department store in Haikou, Hainan Island April 8, 2001. In the aftermath of this week's U.S. spy plane incident, Beijing-based American businessmen are waiting anxiously to see if talks on China's entry into the World Trade Organization will be delayed. The United States was China's second biggest trading partner last year with almost $75 billion worth of bilateral trade.

CMC/CP

A Chinese policeman standing guard outside the United States embassy in Beijing looks on as boxes of soft drinks are delivered to the embassy April 5, 2001. The U.S. standoff with China over the return of a spy plane and crew has given investors, already battered by profit shocks and an economic slowdown, fear that any hardline approach by the U.S. government would prompt China to backpedal on reforms made to join the World Trade Organization or a blacklash against U.S. business interests in the world's most populous nation.

A Chinese policeman standing guard outside the United States embassy in Beijing looks on as boxes of soft drinks are delivered to the embassy April 5, 2001. The U.S. standoff with China over the return of a spy plane and crew has given investors, already battered by profit shocks and an economic slowdown, fear that any hardline approach by the U.S. government would prompt China to backpedal on reforms made to join the World Trade Organization or a blacklash against U.S. business interests in the world's most populous nation.

BY/CP

CHINESE OLYMPIC CHAMPION DIVER TIAN LIANG SPEAKS AFTER SIGNING A SPONSORSHIP CONTRACT WITH REEBOK IN BEIJING.


Chinese Olympic diving champion Tian Liang speaks to the media after signing a sponsorship contract with U.S. sportswear company Reebok in Beijing March 25, 2001. Advertising spending in China is expected to continue growing briskly after rising 36 percent to 80 billion yuan ($9.6 billion) last year compared to 1999, aided by foreign firms boosting their advertising and promotion spending on the local market ahead of China's World Trade Organization entry.

Chinese workers erect a giant Chinese character meaning "light" as part of a Beijing advertisement March 23, 2001. Advertising spending in China is expected to continue growing briskly after rising 36 percent to 80 billion yuan ($9.6 billion) last year compared to 1999, aided by foreign firms boosting their advertising and promotion spending on the local market ahead of China's World Trade Organization entry.

CMC/JD

China Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng talks at a news conference in Beijing March 13, 2001. China will enter the World Trade Organization soon but obstacles remain, including disagreements over agriculture and "unreasonable" demands of some members, Shi said on Tuesday.

CMC/DL

A young farmer carries a bag of grain on her bicyle along a rural countryside road in the town of Houshi,east of Changchun city, in Jilin Province February 23, 2001. China's long awaited accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) is likely to go ahead this summer and WTO working party dealing with China's accession should be able to reach agreement soon on remaining obstacles, mainly relating to agriculture and services.

GN/DL

Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (L) and Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo joke with Chinese President Jiang Zemin (C) as leaders gather for the reading of the final declaration after their last session of the Pacific Rim leaders meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan November 16, 2000. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group leaders gave a significant boost to the cause of global trade liberalization, calling for a new round of trade talks under the World Trade Organization in 2001.

European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten geatures during a luncheon in Hong Kong October 18, 2000. Patten expressed the EU's firm belief that the early launch of a comprehensive new round of the World Trade Organization will benefit all member states, and that EU wants to see early accession of China and Vietnam to the WTO.

BY/JD

European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten speaks at a news conference in Hong Kong October 18, 2000, with stars from a European Union flag behind him. Patten expressed the EU's firm belief that the early launch of a comprehensive new round of the World Trade Organization will benefit all member states, and that EU wants to see early accession of China and Vietnam to the WTO.

BY/JD

A Chinese man on his cycle passes by a WTO billboard in Beijing October 11, 2000. President Bill Clinton signed into law on Tuesday a historic bill granting permanent normal trade relations to China and dispatched his top trade negotiator for urgent talks with Premier Zhu Rongji in hopes of settling disputes that threaten Beijing's entry to the World Trade Organization. The Chinese characters on the sign reads "Meeting WTO's Challenge".

GN/PB

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman testifies before the House Ways and Means Committee while U.S. Secretary of Treasury Lawrence Summers (L), U.S. Secretary of Commerce William Daley (2nd R), and U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky (R) watch while on Capitol Hill, May 3. Administration officials testified to the committee in favor of accepting China as a partner in the World Trade Organization.

LSD/JP

U.S. Secretary of Treasury Lawrence Summers (L) testifies before the House Ways and Means Committee while U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman (second from left), U.S. Secretary of Commerce William Daley (second from right), and U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky (far right) watch on Capitol Hill, May 3. Administration officials testified to the committee in favor of accepting China as a partner in the World Trade Organization.

LSD

U.S. Secretary of Treasury Lawrence Summers testifies before the House Ways and Means Committee while U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman watches while on Capitol Hill, May 3. Administration officials testified to the committee in favor of accepting China as a partner in the World Trade Organization.

LSD/JP

Chinese school girls walk past workers during a springtime outing in Beijing April 28. Chinese workers were given a seven-day holiday this year to celebrate International Labour Day on May 1, though many welcomed the gift with cynicism. Official statistics show the number of labour disputes in China has skyrocketed to more than 120,000 in 1999, as workers complained of late or no pay, layoffs and corruption. Chinese labour conditions have been the subject of increased international scrutiny in advance of a vote in the U.S. Congress on granting China permanent normal trade relations, a major stepping stone to its accession to the World Trade Organization.

ASW/TAN

A truck is parked in front of the U.S. Capitol as thousands of labor union activists swarmed the area on April 12 in organized labor's biggest offensive against a landmark trade agreement with China. Organizers said Wednesday's gathering was labor's biggest since last year's World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Seattle, which drew an estimated 30,000 union participants.said.

Labor Union activists (L-R) Bob Mayer, Don Fritzpatrick and John Bolin from UAW local 160 in Michigan join thousands of labor union activists infront of the U.S. Capitol on April 12 in organized labor's biggest offensive against a landmark trade agreement with China. Organizers said Wednesday's gathering was labor's biggest since last year's World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Seattle, which drew an estimated 30,000 union participants.

JP/TB/CLH/

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji meets visiting U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley (L) prior to a closed-door meeting in Beijing April 6. Daley has called on China and the Europeans to strike an early World Trade Organization (WTO) deal to make easier his job of convincing lawmakers at home to pass related legislation.

tan

Chinese President Jiang Zemin meets visiting U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley (L) prior to a closed-door meeting in Beijing April 6. Daley has called on China and the Europeans to strike an early World Trade Organization (WTO) deal to make easier his job of convincing lawmakers at home to pass related legislation.

TAN

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and visiting U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley (L) look past one another after shaking hands as they prepare to greet each other's delegation prior to a closed-door meeting in Beijing April 6. Daley has called on China and the Europeans to strike an early World Trade Organization (WTO) deal to make easier his job of convincing lawmakers at home to pass related legislation.

CC

Chinese President Jiang Zemin meets visiting U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley (R) prior to a closed-door meeting in Beijing April 6. Daley has called on China and the Europeans to strike an early World Trade Organization (WTO) deal to make easier his job of convincing lawmakers at home to pass related legislation.

CC

President Bill Clinton announces January 10 that he is designating Commerce Secretary William Daley (R) and deputy White House chief of staff Steve Ricchetti (L) to lead the effort to convince the Republican-controlled Congress to back a landmark trade agreement with China. The agreement would open Chinese agriculture, telecommunications and a wide range of other markets and clear the way for Beijing to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).

TB/HB

Chinese President Jiang Zemin (L) and Chinese officials wait for European Union delegates to arrive during the second China-European Union summit December 21. No agreement between the EU and Beijing on China's accession to the World Trade Organization was expected to be reached during the one-day meeting, but the two sides were expected to set a date for the next round of bilateral negotiations.

TS

Chinese President Jiang Zemin (L) greets European Commission President Romano Prodi (R) as Finland's Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen looks on during talks between European Union delegates and China's delegation during the second China-European Union summit December 21. No agreement between the EU and Beijing on China's accession to the World Trade Organization is expected to be reached during the one-day meeting, but the two sides are expected to set a date for the next round of bilateral negotiations.

RT

Chinese President Jiang Zemin (L) greets European Union Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten during talks between EU delegates and China's delegation during the second China-European Union summit December 21. No agreement between the EU and Beijing on China's accession to the World Trade Organization is expected to be reached during the one-day meeting, but the two sides are expected to set a date for the next round of bilateral negotiations.

RT

A woman talking on a mobile phone walks past a printout of a Chinese currency banknote featuring the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong outside a currency exchange shop in Hong Kong November 16. The opening of China's retail market to foreign banks will start with the local currency business before a full opening of banking to foreign participation within five years of accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

BY/DL

U.S. Assistant Trade Representative Robert Cassidy leaves the U.S. Embassy for the fifth day of talks with Chinese negotiators in Beijing on China's entry to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) November 14. After a personal intervention by Premier Zhu Rongji, U.S. trade negotiatiors made a dashing visit to the foreign trade ministry on Sunday morning amid hopes of a breakthrough. The two sides had worked deep into Saturday night to try to hammer out a deal to help Beijing join the WTO before ministers of the organization's 134 members meet in Seattle at the end of this month to launch a new global trade round.

ASW/DL

U.S. President Bill Clinton pauses while listening to a question outside of the Oval Office of the White House, November 8. The president said he was sending a negotiating team to China to help reach a deal to admit China into the World Trade Organization.
**DIGITAL IMAGE**

U.S. President Bill Clinton pauses while listening to a question outside of the Oval Office of the White House, November 8. The president said he was sending a negotiating team to China to help reach a deal to admit China into the World Trade Organization.

LSD

U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers (L) meets Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji in Lanzhou, an industrial city in northwest China, October 24. Summers took to the Chinese hinterland on Sunday to meet Premier Zhu Rongji in an attempt to sweeten the soured relations between the two nations. Talks in Lanzhou were expected to focus on China's long-standing bid to join the World Trading Organization as well as Washington's concern over the rising U.S. trade deficit, particularly with China.

CMC/HB

Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng speaks during a news conference in Brussels, September 22. Wei Jingsheng, who is in Brussels for a seminar at the European Parliament on social questions in China, reiterated opposition to China joining the World Trade Organization, after Beijing said it was ready for new talks with the European Union on WTO membership.

NK/CLH/HB

Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng speaks during a news conference in Brussels, September 22. Wei Jingsheng, who is in Brussels for a seminar at the European Parliament on social questions in China, reiterated opposition to China joining the World Trade Organization, after Beijing said it was ready for new talks with the European Union on WTO membership.

NK/CLH/HB

Chinese cyclists pass an advertisement for Pepsi Cola featuring popular Latin American singer Ricky Martin in central Beijing August 25. A Chinese daily said on Wednesday there was "every indication" Beijing leaders remained keen to join the World Trade Organization (WTO)[ despite setbacks since the NATO bombing of the Belgrade embassy in May.]
??»

China's ambassador to Washington, Li Zhao Xing, insists in Washington August 19, that his government had already "done enough" to join the World Trade Organization and urged the United States to clear the way for Beijing's accession. Li did not rule out a resumption of WTO talks with the Clinton administration either before or during the September meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) in New Zealand.

TRA/MMR/KM

Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi is greeted by officials on his arrival at Beijing airport Thursday July 8. Keizo will meet Chinese leaders Friday to discuss Beijing's entry to the World Trade Organization and allay Chinese fears over a renewed U.S.-Japan military alliance.

ASW/CC

U.S. Assistant Trade Representative Robert Cassidy (L) consults with U.S. embassy officials at a cafe in Beijing April 22 before meeting Chinese negotiators to resume talks on China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). U.S. business leaders have criticised the White House for failing to reach an agreement during Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's visit to the United States this month.

ASW/TAN

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji speaks to business and political leaders during a luncheon held in his honor at Government House in Victoria, April 19. Rongji stated he was very confident that China's inclusion in the World Trade Organization would strengthen Hong Kongs economy. Rongji will visit Vancouver April 20 before flying home, ending a two week tour of the United States and Canada.
**DIGITAL IMAGE**

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji speaks to business and political leaders during a luncheon held in his honor at Government House in Victoria, April 19. Rongji stated he was very confident that China's inclusion in the World Trade Organization would strengthen Hong Kongs economy. Rongji will visit Vancouver April 20 before flying home, ending a two week tour of the United States and Canada.

MB

Frank Zarb (L), chairman & CEO of the National Association of Security Dealers (NASDAQ), listens to Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji during his visit to the Nasdaq-Amex MarketSite in New York April 13. Zhu is in the U.S. to push China's bid to join the 134-member World Trade Organization.

SAB/RED/HB

U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshevsky testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on the status of China's application to join the World Trade Organization April 13. Although Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji has offered wide concessions in sensitive sectors from farming to telecommunications to financial markets, key U.S. lawmakers said China's human-rights record and allegations of spying in the United States make a deal for China's entry into WTO inappropriate at this time.

WM/RC

Frank Zarb (L), chairman & CEO of the National Association of Security Dealers (NASDAQ), sits with Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji during his visit to the Nasdaq-Amex MarketSite in New York April 13. Zhu is in the U.S. to push China's bid to join the 134-member World Trade Organization.

SAB/RED/HB

Frank Zarb (R), chairman & CEO of the National Association of Security Dealers (NASDAQ), watches Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji sign the guest book during his visit to the Nasdaq-Amex MarketSite in New York April 13. Zhu is in the U.S. to push China's bid to join the 134-member World Trade Organization.

SAB/RED/HB

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji (R) joins the applause after he pushed the button to open trading on the Nasdaq during his visit to the Nasdaq-Amex MarketSite in New York April 13. At left is an interpreter. Zhu is in the U.S. to push China's bid to join the 134-member World Trade Organization.

SAB/RED/HB

U.S. Vice President Al Gore (L) welcomes Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji to the U.S. State Department April 9. Zhu and President Clinton signed an agreement in Washington on April 8 committing the two countries to reaching an agreement on China's admission to the World Trade Organization before the end of this year.

WM/ELD

U.S. President Bill Clinton listens as Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji speaks during a news conference at the White House April 8. Clinton and Zhu failed to strike a deal on China's joining the World Trade Organization but said they made significant progress and aimed to finish talks this year.

LSD/RC

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji (L) shakes hands with U.S. President Bill Clinton after a news conference at the White House in Washington, April 8. Clinton and Zhu failed to strike a deal on China's joining the World Trade Organization but said they made significant progress and aimed to finish talks this year.

LSD/JP

China's Vice Minister for trade and economy, Long Yongtu, talks to the media in Washington, April 5. Long Yongtu told a news conference that China and the United States have made more progress in the last eight weeks on China's 13-year-old bid to join the World Trade Organization than in the eight years of negotiations that went before.

TB/JP/CLH/

Visiting U.S. President Bill Clinton speaks as American Chamber of Commerce chairman Jeff Muir (C) and Hong Kong Trade Development Council chairman Victor Fung look on during his remarks to the community and business leaders of Hong Kong July 3. Clinton said the United States want China to be a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

BY/TAN/ME

Visiting U.S. President Bill Clinton speaks to community and business leaders of Hong Kong, July 3. Clinton said the United States want China to be a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

BY/TAN/ME

Deputy Foreign Trade Minister of China Long Yongtu attends a meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva April 8. A working party held a formal session to discuss China's bid to become a member of the WTO.

WTO CHINA

Renato Ruggiero, World Trade Organization Director-General, addresses a Brookings Institution forum in Washington on March 4. Ruggiero said he would like to see talks on China's bid to join the global trading body accelerated and completed as soon as possible.

TRADE CHINA

U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky speaks to a forum on the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the 50th anniversary of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) March 4. Barshefsky said she hoped to see more progress on the bilateral talks with China on its bid to join the WTO.

TRADE

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger testifies at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing about U.S.-China trade relations June 5 [on Capitol Hill. Other topics on the agenda included China's accession into the World Trade organization and Hong Kong's reversion to Chinese rule].

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger testifies at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing about U.S.-China trade relations June 5 on Capitol Hill. Other topics on the agenda included China's accession into the World Trade organization and Hong Kong's reversion to Chinese rule.

USA CHINA

Qian Qichen, Foreign Minister of China (L) and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright speak to reporters at the State Department April 28. The two were upbeat about the prospects for agreement on China's entry into the World Trade Organization, perhaps before a Sino-U.S. summit later this year.

CHINA USA

US trade representative Charlene Barshefsky responds to a question on Sino-U.S. trade relations during a press conference November 10. Three days of detailed trade negotiations held in Beijing ended on Friday with little progress as China maintained its status on joining the World Trade Organization and the US stating that compromise was essential