Brussels / Beijing, 25/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission delegation that has just ended 4 days of negotiations in Beijing on the conditions of China's joining the WTO left for Brussels on Friday. The need for a new phase of negotiations is thus confirmed, despite the last minute attempts by the Chinese to convince Commissioner Pascal Lamy to go and conclude (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.6). The head of the Community delegation, Hans-Friedrich Beseler confirmed that no date had been set for resuming talks: "they will resume when the time is right". Sources close to the Commission denied the Chinese claims that a "basic agreement" had already been reached. Mr. Beseler acknowledged that significant progress had been made, but "we are not at the end of our troubles", and referred to disagreements on minor but also "major" issues.
The Commission's message is thus clear: if the Chinese want to succeed, they must be more flexible in their position on aspects that the EU considers as essential.