WTO 2LST

Growing at a pace of 9 per cent--the fastest in the
world--China has not only emerged among the top exporters, but
also the third largest importer, shipping in merchandise worth
USD 1.13 trillion in 2008.

With such big imports, China enjoys enough clout for
market access in the developed world, which is looking for
opportunities in emerging Asia at the time of the global
recession.

With India maintaining its position of being the second
fastest growing economy, the two countries forging a common
strategy could be quite a decider in the Doha negotiations,
which were to conclude in 2005 but remained inconclusive due
to vast differences between developed and emerging economies.

"In view of their rising importance in the global trade
landscape, it would be useful for India and China to examine
the possibility to work on issue-based alliance in the WTO
along with the other developing countries," Industry body
FICCI's Secretary General Amit Mitra said.

Mitra said issue-base alliance would be vital for
safeguarding the interest of the developing world in the
ongoing Doha Round of negotiations. PTI