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New Zealand envoy appointed to lead WTO agriculture talks

Xinhua, September 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

The New Zealand government Wednesday welcomed the appointment of its World Trade Organization (WTO) ambassador to lead progress in the long stalled Doha Round agriculture negotiations.

Members of the WTO had formally appointed New Zealand Ambassador Vangelis Vitalis as the new chair of the negotiations at a meeting of the Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture held in Geneva, Trade Minister Tim Groser said in a statement.

"The Doha negotiations are facing grave challenges" as 14 years of effort have not been able to bridge differences," said Groser.

"The appointment of Ambassador Vitalis highlights that WTO members recognize that New Zealand can continue to make a constructive contribution in this area," said Groser.

Vitalis, who will replace outgoing Ambassador John Adank, is the fifth successive New Zealander to chair the agriculture negotiations.

A WTO ministerial conference will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, in December when the WTO membership will have to determine the best way to push the Doha Round talks forward. Endi