Clinton signs China trade deal

President Clinton is sending his top trade negotiator to Beijing to try to speed up China's application to join the World Trade Organisation.

The announcement came as the president signed documents granting China permanent normal trade relations with the United States -- a move which has been opposed for many years by American labour unions and human rights activists.

President Clinton described the new arrangement as good for American efforts to promote peace with China.

And he said the more China opened its markets, the more likely it was to unleash the power of economic freedom and the human potential of its people.

President Clinton's senior trade representative, Charlene Barshefsky, expects to meet the Chinese Prime Minister, Zhu Rongji, possibly on Thursday, to discuss obstacles in the way of China's WTO membership -- notably problems over intellectual property rights.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service