Europe and Japan have called for the resumption
of world trade talks by the end of this year.
The call came at the end of the EU-Japan summit in Tokyo, ahead of a
meeting of the leaders of the world's major industrial countries in Okinawa
on Friday.
Global trade talks broke down in December in Seattle, amid bitter recriminations
between trading partners and mass demonstrations on the streets.
In a joint statement, Japan's Premier Mori and French President Jacques
Chirac said they accepted that many people were worried by the growing
globalisation of the world economy.
"The launch of a new round of trade negotiations remains the best way
for the World Trade Organisation to respond to these challenges," they
said.
欧日呼吁召开新一轮贸易谈判