In a message dated 9/8/99 4:49:45 PM Central Daylight Time, AOL News writes: << Subj: Summit May Aid China WTO Progress Date: 9/8/99 4:49:45 PM Central Daylight Time From: AOL News BCC: Ahab42 Summit May Aid China WTO Progress .c The Associated Press By TERENCE HUNT AP White House Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House raised the possibility Wednesday of a trade breakthrough when President Clinton meets with Chinese President Jiang Zemin in New Zealand on the eve of a summit of Pacific Rim leaders. Clinton economic adviser Gene Sperling said the administration hopes the discussions between the two presidents on Saturday ``would at least lead to a resumption of negotiations and momentum'' toward a deal that would allow China to join the World Trade Organization. It will be the first Clinton-Jiang meeting in 15 months. Since then, relations plummeted on allegations of Chinese spying and theft of U.S. nuclear secrets, the U.S. bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia and tensions between China and rival Taiwan. Trade talks were frozen by the May 7 embassy bombing in Belgrade. The negotiations are aimed at allowing China's entry into the WTO, a move that would require Beijing to lower trade barriers and presumably lead to greatly increased access of U.S. products in Chinese markets. In preparations for Saturday's meeting, U.S. Assistant Trade Representative Robert Cassidy met with China's top WTO negotiator in Beijing this week. U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky is to meet with Chinese trade officials in New Zealand before the two leaders sit down. Clinton will leave Washington late Thursday, crossing the international dateline after a refueling stop in Hawaii and arriving in Auckland Saturday morning. Saturday's only appointment is with Jiang. The president will meet jointly Sunday with Presidents Keizo Obuchi of Japan and Kim Dae-jung of South Korea, discussing North Korea's suspected preparations to test a long-range ballistic missile. Clinton also will meet with Russia's new prime minister, Vladimir Putin, on the heels of new allegations about Russian corruption and money laundering. Later Sunday, Clinton will join leaders for the opening talks of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC). ``APEC met last year in the shadow of Asia's financial crisis,'' National Security Adviser Sandy Berger said. ``It will meet next week in the wake of a surprisingly strong recovery.'' In addition to economic issues, the meeting also will focus on security matters, particularly the violence by pro-Indonesia militias in East Timor. Berger hinted that failure by Indonesia to resolve the crisis, or to request the assistance of the international community, could result in the withholding of Western financial support to the populous island nation. ``How the Indonesian government deals with the challenges in East Timor will have implications for the capacity of the international community to support Indonesia's economic program,'' Berger told a White House briefing. After the conclusion of the APEC meeting, Clinton will fly to Queenstown on Tuesday for a day of rest. On Wednesday, the president will travel to Christchurch, a southern city that is the starting point for most American expeditions to the Antarctic. He will speak at the Antartica Center about efforts to protect the global environment. The president also will meet with New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley and opposition leader Helen Clarke. He also is to attend a black-tie dinner given by Shipley before a late takeoff for home. En route to Washington, Clinton will stop in Hawaii again for refueling and a day of golf. AP-NY-09-08-99 1748EDT Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without prior written authority of The Associated Press. Announcement: America Online has added Reuters newswires to News Profiles. To add Reuters articles to your daily news delivery, go to KW: <A HREF="aol://5862:146">News Profiles</A> and click on "Modify Your News Profiles." Then click "Edit" and add Reuters from the list on the left. To edit your profile, go to keyword <A HREF="aol://1722:NewsProfiles">NewsProfiles</A>. For all of today's news, go to keyword <A HREF="aol://1722:News">News</A>. >>
Summit May Aid China WTO Progress .c The Associated Press By TERENCE HUNT AP White House Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House raised the possibility Wednesday of a trade breakthrough when President Clinton meets with Chinese President Jiang Zemin in New Zealand on the eve of a summit of Pacific Rim leaders. Clinton economic adviser Gene Sperling said the administration hopes the discussions between the two presidents on Saturday ``would at least lead to a resumption of negotiations and momentum'' toward a deal that would allow China to join the World Trade Organization. It will be the first Clinton-Jiang meeting in 15 months. Since then, relations plummeted on allegations of Chinese spying and theft of U.S. nuclear secrets, the U.S. bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia and tensions between China and rival Taiwan. Trade talks were frozen by the May 7 embassy bombing in Belgrade. The negotiations are aimed at allowing China's entry into the WTO, a move that would require Beijing to lower trade barriers and presumably lead to greatly increased access of U.S. products in Chinese markets. In preparations for Saturday's meeting, U.S. Assistant Trade Representative Robert Cassidy met with China's top WTO negotiator in Beijing this week. U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky is to meet with Chinese trade officials in New Zealand before the two leaders sit down. Clinton will leave Washington late Thursday, crossing the international dateline after a refueling stop in Hawaii and arriving in Auckland Saturday morning. Saturday's only appointment is with Jiang. The president will meet jointly Sunday with Presidents Keizo Obuchi of Japan and Kim Dae-jung of South Korea, discussing North Korea's suspected preparations to test a long-range ballistic missile. Clinton also will meet with Russia's new prime minister, Vladimir Putin, on the heels of new allegations about Russian corruption and money laundering. Later Sunday, Clinton will join leaders for the opening talks of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC). ``APEC met last year in the shadow of Asia's financial crisis,'' National Security Adviser Sandy Berger said. ``It will meet next week in the wake of a surprisingly strong recovery.'' In addition to economic issues, the meeting also will focus on security matters, particularly the violence by pro-Indonesia militias in East Timor. Berger hinted that failure by Indonesia to resolve the crisis, or to request the assistance of the international community, could result in the withholding of Western financial support to the populous island nation. ``How the Indonesian government deals with the challenges in East Timor will have implications for the capacity of the international community to support Indonesia's economic program,'' Berger told a White House briefing. After the conclusion of the APEC meeting, Clinton will fly to Queenstown on Tuesday for a day of rest. On Wednesday, the president will travel to Christchurch, a southern city that is the starting point for most American expeditions to the Antarctic. He will speak at the Antartica Center about efforts to protect the global environment. The president also will meet with New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley and opposition leader Helen Clarke. He also is to attend a black-tie dinner given by Shipley before a late takeoff for home. En route to Washington, Clinton will stop in Hawaii again for refueling and a day of golf. AP-NY-09-08-99 1748EDT Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without prior written authority of The Associated Press. Announcement: America Online has added Reuters newswires to News Profiles. To add Reuters articles to your daily news delivery, go to KW: <A HREF="aol://5862:146">News Profiles</A> and click on "Modify Your News Profiles." Then click "Edit" and add Reuters from the list on the left. To edit your profile, go to keyword <A HREF="aol://1722:NewsProfiles">NewsProfiles</A>. For all of today's news, go to keyword <A HREF="aol://1722:News">News</A>.
