DOHA, Nov 10: China won admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO), on Saturday, securing an historic, unanimous approval from WTO countries after 15 years of tortuous negotiations.

The chairman of the WTO conference, Qatari Economy Minister Youssef Hussain Kamal, banged a gavel to officially mark the WTO endorsement of Chinese membership.

Delegates greeted the decision with a standing ovation.

No vote was required. A consensus on China’s entry was assumed after no objections from WTO members were raised to the proposal.

“After 15 years of difficult negotiations, we finally came to this historic moment,” Chinese Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng told a packed hall at the WTO ministerial conference in Doha.

Beijing will formally sign its accession documents Sunday before ratifiying the agreement.—AFP