    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [April 10, 1999]
    [Page 536]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement by President Bill Clinton and Premier Zhu Rongji
    April 10, 1999

        On the occasion of the signing of the Agreement on U.S. China
    Agricultural Cooperation, President Bill Clinton and Premier Zhu Rongji
    reaffirmed that the United States and the People's Republic of China
    have advanced substantially their common goal of China's accession to
    the World Trade Organization (WTO). This Agreement and the significant
    consensus achieved on a broad range of market access and Protocol issues
    have further advanced that goal. President Clinton and Premier Zhu
    welcome this significant progress. The United States strongly supports
    the accession of the People's Republic of China to the WTO in 1999.
    Therefore, President Clinton and Premier Zhu instruct their trade
    ministers to continue bilateral negotiations in order to satisfactorily
    resolve the important remaining issues and reach agreement on strong
    commercial terms as soon as possible.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.