China Ready for Doha End-game in 2011: Chinese Commerce Minister

Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming, Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota, Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma, and South Africa's Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies (L-R) pose for a photo after a meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 28, 2011. They held a meeting on Friday to exchange opinions on promoting WTO Doha Round trade negotiations. (Xinhua)

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to push the decade-long Doha Round negotiations for a final success, Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said here on Saturday.

Speaking at the World Trade Organization (WTO) Mini-Ministerial Meeting which brought together representatives from over 20 major trading powers, Chen said that China is ready to collaborate with other WTO members in a practical and proactive manner so as to draw a successful conclusion of the Doha Round talks by the end of 2011.

A rapid conclusion of the negotiations, Chen said, will be beneficial to global economic recovery, which is to the interest of all.

The commerce minister acknowledged the year 2011 as a "window of opportunity," albeit a narrow one."China will give support to the roadmap proposed by WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy," he said, adding that the country is willing to act vigorously to push forward the negotiation process.

To ensure that an early final deal could be in reach, Chen said, parties should set goals in a practical manner, in accordance with the ambition level, and stick to what has been achieved as well as the Doha Development Agenda (DDA), while focusing primarily on pending issues.

Held on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum, the WTO Mini-Ministerial Meeting is an annual event under the auspices of the Swiss Federal Government.

Chen on Friday also joined discussions with his counterparts from the emerging club -- India, Brazil and South Africa, before attending the trade G7 meeting, consisting of Australia, Brazil, China, the European Union, India, Japan and the United States.

Source: Xinhuanet