A second factor may have been a result of watching the high-tech revolution of
the 1990s. Chinese leaders want China to be part of these developments, and there may be increasing awareness that this would be much easier if China was seen as a credible partner in the international economic system, which would include protection of intellectual property. WTO membership is also expected to attract more foreign investment, some of which would bring desired new technology or help enhance China’s own capabilities for technological development. The fact that China joined the Information Technology Agreement, which phases out all tariffs on information technology products by 2005, gives credence to this as one factor supporting
membership.