Clinton 'hopeful' on China trade bill

President Clinton says he is hopeful that the House of Representatives will approve a bill granting trade benefits to China when it votes on Wednesday.

A White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said progress had been made but there was still more work to be done. He said the President would be personally contacting undecided representatives in the run-up to the vote. The measure would give China the same access to the United States market as other members of the World Trade Organisation.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service