Commission and Chinese officials embarked on a fourth day of negotiations aimed at agreeing terms for Beijing’s entry into the World Trade Organisation today (24 February)

Date: 24/02/2000

A spokesman for Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said the Frenchman was ready to fly to the Chinese capital if necessary to clinch an accord. But he added that despite some progress over the last three days, the two sides "had not reached the point where the possibility of finalising a deal is on the horizon".