China and the United States should proceed in talks on China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) according to the principle of equality and mutual benefit, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue on November 9.

At a regular press conference, the spokeswoman confirmed that China and the United States will begin a new round of bilateral talks in Beijing on China's WTO membership. She said US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky will arrive here this evening for the negotiations.

China has tried for 13 years to enter the WTO and never changed its position, viewpoint and attitude, she noted, pointing out that what China insists on is "the balance between rights and obligations".

She said that China is a country that stresses principle and it can only undertake obligations that are commensurate with its national strength at present.

She hoped that the US side could adopt a more practical, flexible and constructive attitude towards the negotiations.