ASEM foreign ministers to discuss WTO, new trade talks next week: official

BEIJING (AFX-ASIA) - The WTO and the new round of global trade talks will be on the agenda of next week's meeting in Beijing between the foreign ministers of member states of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) forum, a senior 

Chinese foreign ministry official said here.

	    However, the official, who declined to be named, said the May 24-25 meeting would not be the right forum for China to bring up the obstacles that are still blocking a final agreement which would allow the country to join 

the WTO. 

	    Ministers will also discuss disarmament, arms proliferation and control, the official said, although he would not be drawn on whether Foreign Minister Qian Qichen would bring up U.S. proposals for a National Missile Defense system. 

	    He confirmed that China would also hold bilateral talks with Japan's new foreign minister Makiko Tanaka on the sidelines of the meeting. "All issues of interest to both ministers will be raised and discussed subject to time limits," he said, but would not comment further. 

	    In addition to foreign ministers from Asia and Europe, EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten will also attend the two-day meeting.

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