China's new Vice Premier Wang Qishan met with US Trade Representative Susan Schwab on Friday, pledging China's constructive role as a bridge in the Doha Round negotiations.

Wang told Schwab, who was to secure China's support for the Doha talks, that China valued the Doha Round negotiations. Whether the talks could see a successful conclusion concerns both the sustained development of the world economy and the healthy world trade.

He said the new waves of trade protectionism hurts both countries, and called for joint efforts to maintain and enhance the multilateral trade system.

In response, Schwab said the United States treasured China's role in the Doha negotiations, adding her country would like to work closely with China to conclude the Doha Round this year.

They also exchanged views on bilateral trade relations.

Schwab also met with newly-appointed Minister of Commerce Chen Deming on speeding up the Doha Round on Thursday.

She told reporters "there is a range of areas where the United States is prepared to make concessions" in the Doha Round. She called for China's support to push forward the Doha process.

The Doha Round of trade negotiations was launched in 2001 with the aim of bringing down trade barriers to promote development. It has been stalled due to disagreements over farm subsidies and import tariffs.

Developing countries have been pressing for an end to farm subsidies in developed countries, which in return seek better industrial market access to the emerging economies.

(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2008)