Wednesday, August 23 2006 14:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kuala Lumpur: ASEAN today (Aug 23, 2006)called on WTO members, especially its major players, to try and revive the Doha Development Round negotiations before the end of 2006.

ASEAN economic ministers, attending their annual meeting here, have also called on the key countries to show good leadership and genuine political will to successfully conclude the round.

"As developing countries endeavouring to create an Asian Economic Community (AEC), ASEAN counts on a credible and open multilateral trading system to guide and see the region through this vision," a statement said.

It said the economic ministers had reaffirmed their faith on the DDA and its ability to bring about a much stronger and more credible WTO, in promoting global economic growth and providing developing and least developing countries vast opportunities for sustainable growth and development.

Negotiations of the Doha Round in Geneva in July 2006 collapsed mainly due to the stubbornness of developed countries such as the United States for not giving a deeper cut in their agriculture sector.

The economic ministers from the 10-member grouping also anticipated Vietnam's accession to the WTO which is expected to be announced in October. They also reaffirmed their support to Laos' bid to become a WTO member as early as possible.