On Monday, China and the European Union also restarted talks on China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). "With the exception of pledges that cannot be made to any WTO member, there are few remaining disputes between China and the EU," the Beijing Youth Daily said, quoting recent remarks by Foreign Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng.

Meanwhile, (support was eroding) in the U.S. House of Representatives for the Clinton adminstration's plan to get China entry in the WTO, according to an article in the South China Morning Post. House Ways and Means Committee member Robert Matsui said a growing number of Democrats who supported trade legislation in the past are bowing to pressure from the AFL-CIO and other labour unions, according to the newspaper.

A editorial in the official China Daily newspaper praised the ability of the Internet to lower prices and increase sales for Chinese manufacturers and agricultural workers. "The booming web economy has created a golden opportunity for China to re-adjust its economic structure and to leap forward in development, Wu told delegates at the two-day forum," the article said.

In China-Taiwan relations, the news wasn't so upbeat. The Chinese government moved Wednesday to dampen the hopes of Taiwanese President-elect Chen Shui-bian and his supporters for an early relaxation of trade and transportation restrictions across the Taiwan Strait. Chen, who was elected earlier this month, said during his campaign and in subsequent interviews that he would like to open up what are commonly called the "three links" between Taiwan and China: direct trade, shipping and postal services.