Developing countries asked the developed countries to take an initiative in the negotiation of the World Trade Organization (WTO), as more countries have shown signal of willingness to constructively engage in the development ground of the negotiation, Indonesian and Indian ministers said Wednesday.

The statements were made at a joint press conference after the two-day G-33 meeting here in Jakarta. The meeting was attended by Ceiso Luiz Mune Samorim, Minister for External Affairs from Brazil as coordinator of the G-20, Toshikatsu Matsuoka, Agriculture Minister of Japan representing the G-10, Peter Mandelson, European Trade Commissioner, and Pascal Lamy, Director General of the WTO.

"The developed countries need to show leadership to subdue the process of the negotiation forward," said Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, who is the chairperson of the G-33 meeting.

"...Because the time is not on our side, we have to work hard to make sure that the negotiation will be concluded in time," she added.

Indian Trade Minister Kamal Nath said that the G-33 meeting had committed itself for constructive engagement towards a breakthrough.

The communiqu resulted from the meeting said that the ministers of the developing countries reiterated that the early removal of distortions, caused by huge subsidies and significant market access in developed countries, would contribute to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.

As part of the group's positive and constructive engagement, ministers have received and approved a revision of the list of indicators for the selection of Special Products in a manner as to ensure transparency while enabling all developing countries to appropriately self designed an appropriate number of products based on the mandated criteria.

The ministers reaffirmed that the Special Safeguard Mechanism is an integral part of the modalities of the WTO agriculture negotiation.

The European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson commented that a positive signal had been sent by the developing countries.

Source: Xinhua