Taipei, Nov. 22 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian signed documents Thursday formally approving Taiwan's ratification of World Trade Organization agreements and thereby completing the last step of the country's 12-year pursuit of WTO membership. Chen puts his name to the historical documents with a Chinese calligraphy brush.
The president's signature and the state seal are necessary for the ratification of any treaty under the law.
The documents will now be presented to the WTO secretariat in Geneva by Taiwan's chief negotiator and Taiwan's membership will take effect 30 days thereafter, or Jan. 1 next year.