Chinese Vice Minister of Finance, Li Yong, called on developed countries on Sunday to step forward and lead the way in further opening markets and lowering tariffs. In particular he called for the reduction or removal of the agricultural export subsidies to promote progress in world trade negotiations.

In a statement to the meeting of the Joint Development Committee of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Li Yong said that the Doha Round is about development and to what extent related issues would be addressed is the key criterion for the success of the talks. 

As the first round of multilateral trade negotiations after the establishment of the WTO, the Doha trade negotiations aim at further liberalizing the world trade market, he said. "However, since its launch in 2001, the Doha talks have been proceeding with tremendous difficulties and frustrations."

Li said the Doha process should give adequate consideration of the development levels and affordability of the developing members. It is required that efforts are made to effectively implement the special and different requirements of developing members to enable their adequate participation in the multilateral trading system so as to permit them to reap real benefits.

"The developing members should be treated as a whole and we are against the classification of them," he said. "As a new member China has always been positively participating in the Doha Round negotiations and playing a constructive role," he said.

The developed members like the United States, the EU and other countries shoulder special responsibilities and obligations in promoting progress in the world trade negotiations, Li said.

The Chinese official also called for a long term global clean energy regulatory system based on the principle of common responsibilities so as to secure an affordable and reliable world energy supply for the long term.

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2006)