President Clinton has indicated that the US is close to lifting its opposition to China's entry into the World Trade Organisation on the eve of his meeting here with the Chinese Prime Minister, Mr Zhu Rongji.
Mr Clinton yesterday devoted most of a major foreign policy speech to the importance of US relations with China and warned against present difficulties becoming an issue in the American presidential election campaign.
Against a background of reports that China has this week agreed to end a health ban on imports of US wheat and citrus fruits, Mr Clinton said: "We also have an interest in integrating China into the world trading system and in seeing it join the World Trade Organisation on clearly acceptable commercial terms."
Mr Clinton said: "Getting this done and getting it done right is profoundly in our national interest. It is not a favour to China. It is the best way to level the playing field."
Mr Zhu arrived in the US on Tuesday for the start of a nine-day trip aimed at improving relations between the two countries at a time when they have been strained over US criticism of China over human rights abuses, alleged stealing of nuclear secrets and interference in the 1996 Presidential election and Taiwan.
US and Chinese officials have been engaged in intensive negotiations over the past few weeks to remove the remaining obstacles to China joining the WTO.
The US has been urging China to end restrictions in sectors such as telecommunications, agriculture and banking.
In his speech yesterday, President Clinton said that "China already has broad access to our markets as you can see from any perusal of recent trade figures.
"If China accepts the responsibilities that come with WTO membership, that will give us broad access to China's markets while accelerating its internal reforms and propelling it towards acceptance of the rule of law."
The President added: "The bottom line is this: if China is willing to play by the global rules of trade, it would be an inexplicable mistake for the US to say `No'."
The US trade deficit with China has now reached $60 billion annually and is growing.
But there is also a strong anti-China sentiment among Republicans in Congress who would be certain to oppose a move now by President Clinton to end US opposition to Chinese membership of the WTO.
The President has the power to authorise the US to vote for membership of the 134-member world trade body but Congress would have to agree to end the present system of annual votes to give China normal trading rights.
Mr Clinton made a plea for a continuation of the policy of "constructive engagement".