Takeo Hiranuma, minister of economy, trade and industry, hailed Tuesday's adoption by the World Trade Organization of documents on conditions for Taiwan's membership in the world trade body.
"Taiwan is Japan's fourth-largest trading partner and its entry into the WTO will not only help strengthen the world's free-trade regime, but is also significant in view of promoting bilateral economic relations," Hiranuma said in a statement.
Hiranuma said he expects the WTO to formally approve Taiwan's accession at a ministerial meeting scheduled to be held from Nov. 9 to 13 in Doha, Qatar.
A working-group meeting held Tuesday in Geneva adopted the documents, following a similar move the day before over admission terms for China. The adoptions pave the way for the 142-member WTO to approve the admission of both China and Taiwan in the upcoming meeting in Doha.