¡¡¡¡GENEVA, Dec. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- China has won wide recognition for the performance and efforts in its first year in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

¡¡¡¡At the trade body's General Council meeting Tuesday, Sergio Marchi, Chairman and Canadian ambassador, said that discussions are very constructive and it marks a very good way to end a one-year membership for China.

¡¡¡¡"More and more people in China are becoming familiar with the WTO. Accession has brought China great opportunities as well as huge challenges," Chinese Ambassador Sun Zhenyu said at the meeting.

¡¡¡¡He said China has made utmost efforts to implement the commitments, revise the legislation, expand market access, and improve the investment environment.

¡¡¡¡He pointed out that the increase in China's trade and the foreign investment in China last year show that people are quite positive on what China has done.

¡¡¡¡US Ambassador Linnet Deily welcomed the "time and effort" that China put in to implement its commitments.

¡¡¡¡She said that the 16 reports submitted to the General Council give a very good useful reference to understand China and wish China could make more use of the reports and look for an even smoother review next year.

¡¡¡¡Carlo Trojan, the European Union's ambassador, appreciated the efforts by China in implementing programs and the huge efforts China has undertaken.

¡¡¡¡He praised China for the efforts it had made to educate its population and businesses about the WTO. "If all members made similar information efforts, the WTO would begin to win popularitycontests," Trojan said.

¡¡¡¡China joined the WTO on Dec. 11, 2001 after more than 15 years arduous negotiations for its membership.

¡¡¡¡Under the membership agreement, the WTO will give a transitional trade policy review of China's action annually for eight years and give a final report at the 10th anniversary of China's membership. Enditem

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