Hong Kong authorities called upon all WTO members to resist protectionism, according to statements released on Friday.

The authority, including Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Rita Lau and 10 other ministers responsible for the World Trade Organisation Doha Round negotiations, issued a joint statement at the Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organization for Economic Co-operation & Development in Paris on Thursday.

The ministers said they are committed to reaching an ambitious and balanced conclusion to the Doha Development Round in the shortest possible time.

Welcoming the commitments undertaken at the meetings of the G20 in London and the Cairns Group in Bali, the ministers stressed the importance of moving the Doha Round forward to a successful conclusion.

Concluding the negotiations will contribute to economic recovery and reinforce the benefits of the multilateral trading system, the ministers said. Reforms resulting from the round will also provide valuable insurance against the threat of protectionism.

Commenting on the statement, Mrs Lau said Hong Kong has been contributing actively on both fronts of fighting against protectionism and pushing forward the Doha Round negotiations in the WTO.

We will continue to engage with other WTO members to continue with these efforts, she added.

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