HELSINKI (AFX) - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said developed economies should take steps to reduce farm support in order to revive the stalled WTO world trade talks.
'Major developed members are urged to show their political will and demonstrate greater flexibility in cutting agricultural subsidies and tariffs in order to create conditions for the resumption of the negotiations,' Wen said at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit here.
He said the suspension of the Doha round of trade talks 'is in no one's interests'.
'Countries concerned should reflect upon their respective negotiation positions,' he said.
Wen said all ASEM members should fight against protectionism and refrain from politicising trade issues.
He also said that the 25 EU countries and 13 Asian nations represented in the ASEM forum should increase cooperation on energy security.
They need to work to improve the global energy market mechanism, diversify energy supply and maintain stability in the global energy market, he said.
Wen said ASEM members should also increase economic cooperation because global growth is currently unbalanced. steve.whitehouse@afxnews.com sw/vm COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited