November 12, 2001

WTO membership protocol inked

The World Trade Organization (WTO) finally opened its door on Saturday to China, integrating the most populous nation on the planet into the open world market and sending a positive signal to a slumping global economy on the brink of a full-blown recession.

It took only minutes for WTO trade ministers to deliberate and then, on a basis of consensus, rubberstamp a draft report of the China Working Party with an applause on Saturday evening.

With that, an arduous 15-year quest for China's entry was completed. The vote was a formality, with China attaining the requisite contracts and treaties with each of the trading partners necessary for admittance.