China is willing to work with other parties to try to revive the Doha Round of global trade negotiations, Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai has said.

Bo made the remarks during a meeting with US Trade Representative Susan Schwab, who is on her first visit to China, the ministry said in a statement issued late Monday.

The developed members of the World Trade Organization should make the first move to inject new life into the Doha round, by making substantial contributions, Bo said.

The Doha Development Round talks collapsed last month when five years of lengthy talks failed to resolve disputes among key participants over farm tariffs and subsidies.

Bo said he regretted the breakdown of the Doha talks. He claimed that reviving the talks, which aim to further fair and just multilateral trade systems, is in the interest of the majority of WTO members.

Since the Doha round is dubbed the development round, all parties should give top priority to the issue of development and take a constructive attitude so that they can usher in a balanced, stable and open trade regime, he said.

Schwab said the United States is willing to rekindle the Doha Round of talks, adding that as an important member of WTO and a major beneficiary of the multilateral trade system, China should play a bigger role in the Doha Round.

Bo said China's stance on the issue of protecting intellectual property right (IPR) is firm and consistent.

China has taken a comprehensive and systematic approach to protecting IPR by improving legislation, law enforcement, education, training and corporate self-discipline and has also developed international cooperation, he said.

Bo expressed China's concerns over the recognition of China's market economy status, the easing of US export controls, visas for Chinese businessmen and cooperation in tourism and quarantine services.

"Solving these issues will inject new impetus into Sino-US trade relations and solidify bilateral trade ties," he said.

Schwab said she agreed with Bo, adding that bilateral trade relations with China are very important to the United States and that development of these relations is of fundamental interest to both countries.

The United States understands the Chinese concerns and is willing to cooperate with the Chinese side on these issues, she said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2006)