Ministers from the World Trade Organization (WTO) gathered on Tuesday in Hong Kong to open the Sixth Ministerial Conference (MC6).

The following are some quotable quotes about the biennial meeting:

"This conference is a golden opportunity for us to demonstrate our collective resolve to improve the lives of peoples throughout the world through progressive trade liberalization."

-- Donald Tsang, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)

"Let us show the world that the WTO is alive and well, and is fully capable of delivering results that matter to people everywhere."

-- John Tsang, secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology of the HKSAR and chairman of MC6

"A popular Chinese proverb says 'If you don't go into the cave of tiger, how will you get its cubs?' -- in other words: nothing ventured, nothing gained."

-- Pascal Lamy, WTO director-general

"The draft text amounts to nothing more than a rearrangement of the deck chairs on the Titanic. It's now sink or swim time for the WTO, and the members must tackle the real issue of firm dates for completion of the Doha Development Agenda."

-- Richard Lloyd, director-general of Consumer International

"Rich countries will have to reject not just protectionism, but populism, too. They will have to speak honestly to their people about the changing economies of the 21st century, and about global interdependence and the fact prosperity elsewhere means prosperity and jobs at home."

-- Supachai Panitchpakdi, secretary general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and former WTO director-general.

Source: Xinhua