The United States on December 11 expressed its congratulation on China's formal entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), a move that is seen as a push to the world economy.

"I congratulate China on becoming the 143rd member of the World Trade Organization," U.S. Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans said in a statement.

He said that China's accession to the WTO "will open China's market to American exports of industrial goods, services and agriculture to an unprecedented degree and strengthen the world economy".

"China has joined the WTO at an historic moment and we look forward to their full participation in future WTO work," Evans said.