With the strike of a gavel, China's 15-year bid to join the WTO was completed yesterday in Doha, Qatar, where ministers at the organization's fourth ministerial meeting approved Beijing's application.
Delegates greeted the decision with a standing ovation after no objections from WTO members were raised to the proposal.
"After 15 years of difficult negotiations, we have finally arrived at this historic moment," Chinese Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng (
PHOTO: REUTERS
"China will abide by WTO rules and honor its commitments while enjoying the rights [of membership]," he said.
In Taipei, commenting on China's entry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was quoted as saying "We welcome the finalization of China's accession."
China is scheduled to sign its accession document in a ceremony beginning at 7pm today, the same day Taiwan's entry is scheduled to be accepted.
Several hours before China's entry was approved, Taiwan officials were hurriedly gathering the support of their allies in case Beijing attempts to block Taiwan's membership.
According to a senior official from the Taiwan delegation, representatives from eight of Taiwan's Latin American allies have met with Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Hsin-yi (林信義) on the sidelines of the meeting.
"Our allies expressed their support for Taiwan's accession to the WTO in the face of possible intervention by China," the official said.
The official said that the countries at the meeting were all from Central America, where the majority of Taiwan's 28 diplomatic allies are located.
All eight countries -- Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Belize, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic -- are already members of the WTO and could defend approval of Taiwan's accession at the meeting if it was challenged. Expressions of support from these countries come one day after officials from both the US and the EU said they would help Taiwan overcome any last minute problems with its accession.
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