The latest round of talks over China's entry to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have ended with no overall agreement reached on accession.
While progress was reported, there are outstanding differences on the key issues of agriculture and services.
A Chinese delegation and WTO members held talks in Geneva over the past 10 days in an effort to find agreement.
In a statement following the meeting, the acting chairman of the working party on China and WTO deputy director-general Mr Paul Ravier said that the talks moved the process of China's accession forward.
"Overall, I feel that none of the outstanding problems is insurmountable," he said. "In each case the political decisions are now very clear and unambiguous. I consider that this session has been a successful one in sharply defining the political decisions needed."
China's chief trade negotiator, Mr Long Yongtu, said it was regrettable that agreement was not reached "due to one or two major issues".
According to a report in the official news agency Xinhau, he said China had an agricultural population of 900 million, and ensuring the stability of agriculture was of utmost importance to China's social stability and economic development.
He said it was an undisputed fact that China's agriculture was dogged by inferior natural endowments, inefficiency of labour force and backward technology.
"China is willing to promote restructuring in this sector and to participate in international competition through opening the market of agricultural products," Mr Long was quoted as saying. "However, the Chinese government needs to maintain WTO-consistent agricultural support measures after its accession to the WTO. The interests of the 900 million farmers will always be our top priority."
He expressed hope that all WTO members would realise the common objective of China's accession to the WTO when they meet in Geneva in late February and/or early March.
"China is looking forward to its early accession to the WTO. By that time, China will be able to start the implementation of our commitments made in the WTO negotiations and enable the WTO members to benefit from the significant commitment of China's market opening," he added.
