?...In order to move ahead and finish the negotiations successfully we will need WTO Members to translate the current strong political will and support into practical negotiating flexibilities?said WTO Director-General Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi. “We have now reactivated the negotiating groups and other bodies and our collective task is to find that elusive link between political will and concrete progress. What we are doing here is immensely important to economic growth, stability and development prospects for all stakeholders of the multilateral trading system. Governments and the multilateral trading system therefore need active input and support from all of them and I hope to see some of that during this year's public symposium? he said.

The 2004 symposium featured an opening plenary session followed by work sessions on key subjects being negotiated in the Doha Round. Topics included trade and development, issues related to agriculture, trade and environment as well as institutional questions. As was the case during previous symposia, most of the time available was set aside for governments, civil society and parliamentarians to organize their own events.

> Programme (includes links to speakers' presentations where supplied)
> Webcasting
  

For more information please contact:

Bernard Kuiten ?External Relations Division
Tel: 00 41 22 739 56 76 or 739 52 54
email: [email protected]