The new World Trade Organization (WTO) chief Pascal Lamy, who took office on Thursday, said boosting global trade talks before the ministerial meeting in Hong Kong this December is the most important work for him.

"There is a lot of work ahead of us, following both what happened and what did not happen last July...the way ahead to Hong Kong obviously is and remains the number one priority," Lamy told reporters on his first day as WTO director-general.

Lamy said he would start work right now, and would be back to the press in a fortnight from now with more precise views on the substance and the way to Hong Kong.

As to the role he can play in pushing trade negotiations ahead,Lamy said: "We can catalyze, we can broker, we sometimes can lead,but at the end of the day... member states have the decision-making power."

The Doha round of trade talks, named after the Qatari capital where the talks were launched in 2001, has missed its initial December 2004 deadline for conclusion due to sharp differences over agriculture.

Diplomats expect Lamy to help guide the 148-member WTO to a detailed draft when trade ministers meet in Hong Kong, which is crucial to the round's expected conclusion in 2006.

Pascal Lamy, a French Socialist and former European Union (EU) trade chief, assumed office on Thursday as the fifth director-general of the WTO and he will serve a four-year term.

Source: Xinhua