On May 25, the US House of Representatives voted in favor of the Bill to Authorize Extension of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) treatment to China, which endorses China's PNTR status. It is a wise decision. It must be pointed out that resolving the PNTR question is an obligation that the US side should undertake in line with WTO rules. It is the basis and prerequisite for the implementation of bilateral agreement between China and the United State on China's accession to WTO. Resolving the PNTR question is conducive to the development of economic and trade relations between China and the United States on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. It also helps create conditions for healthy and steady development of China-US relations.


Yet the Chinese side is seriously concerned and dissatisfied that the bill contains provisions that attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs in various names like human rights and harm the interests of China. The Chinese Government has made solemn representations to the US Government about the matter and announced in explicit terms that it firmly opposes and cannot accept these provisions. The Chinese side demands that the US side effectively abide by the three Sino-US joint communiqués, basic norms governing international relations and WTO rules so as to ensure that China-US relations as well as economic and trade exchanges will grow in a healthy and steady direction.