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FM: China to 'actively' join WTO Doha round

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-04 19:37

BEIJING -- China said it will actively join the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Doha round and play a constructive role, so as to promote negotiations to achieve a comprehensive and balanced result.

Related readings:  US official upbeat on Doha round  China VP: China promotes Doha Round talks  WTO members seek way out of Doha Round impasse

"Though it is a tough job to finish the Doha round by year-end, China will continue to play a constructive and active role as a responsible country, and work with all sides to promote the negotiations to achieve a comprehensive and balanced result on the basis of existing achievements," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters here on Thursday.

The Doha Round talks, which aim to lower trade barriers worldwide and boost global trade, have stalled due to disagreements on issues such as agricultural and industrial tariffs.

Noting the G20 summit and the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum summit have sent strong signals that the Doha round should reach agreement before the end of the year, Liu said China also reiterated its stance to actively join the negotiations in the two summits.

He told the press that China will send a ministerial-level delegation to attend the WTO high-level meeting, a sign of China's resolution and sincerity to promote the Doha round.