6th WTO Ministerial Conference opens in Hong Kong
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-13 15:32

Ministers from 149 members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) gathered in Hong Kong Tuesday afternoon to open the Sixth Ministerial Conference in a new bid to push forward the stalled Doha Round trade talks.

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Donald Tsang said at the opening session that the meeting is a "once in a generation chance" to enhance the international trade system.

The meeting, attended by 5,800 delegates from WTO's 149 members and 2,100 representatives from non-governmental organizations at the Convention and Exhibition Center, will focus on the topics of the Doha Round, which aims to reduce farm subsidies and tariffs, liberalize service trade and provide economic aids to developing countries.

Launched in the Qatari capital in 2001, the Doha Round bogged down in a deadlock over farm subsidies, which pitted mainly rich countries against poor ones.