Chief Executive Donald Tsang called on WTO Sixth Ministerial Conference delegates to "vigorously defend the integrity and effectiveness of the multilateral trading system," at the Inaugural Session today.

"We are at a historic juncture," he said, adding trade liberalisation and economic growth is a permanent goal for all WTO members.

"This week we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance the existing international trading environment; to generate wealth on a broader and deeper scale globally; and, most important of all, to help alleviate the pain of poverty for millions of people living in the poorer parts of our world," Mr Tsang stressed.

Talking trade: Chief Executive Donald Tsang outlines the conference's 'golden opportunity' and welcomes WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy, while John Tsang stressed the negotiations' guiding philosophy was development.

Hong Kong offered to host this conference because the Government recognised that it would become a key staging post to the successful conclusion of the multilateral trade negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda - and it wanted to play its part in the collective effort to realise the round's ambitions.

"This conference is a golden opportunity for us to demonstrate our collective resolve to improve the lives of peoples throughout the world through progressive trade liberalisation. That is what we committed ourselves to do when the round was launched four years ago in Doha," he said.

Taking the podium, Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology John Tsang - who is also chairing the conference - said the Doha round is the most complex and difficult yet undertaken.

"But members agreed to take up this challenge and pressed on vigorously with the negotiations because we recognised the quickening pace of global interdependence. We recognised, too, that domestic economic reforms could not be implemented effectively without the cooperation of the other participants in the global economy," he said.

"The middle name of DDA is Development. It is there as a matter of deliberate choice. At Doha we chose development as the guiding philosophy of this ninth round of multilateral negotiations because we believe that trade is an engine of growth, and that it must work for development."

The ultimate aim is to help developing economies better integrate into the global trading system so that they can also reap the benefits of free and open trade.

"In promoting open trade, we must not, of course, neglect the immediate pains of adjustment which all of us must face when cosy protective arrangements come to an end, and comfortable subsidies are removed," he said.

The WTO's rules-based multilateral trading system helps sustain a dynamic but stable international market environment, in which members' goods and services can compete on a level playing field. In the event of disputes, it allows a fair hearing for all, regardless of size and economic well being, he added.

He stressed significant progress had been made since the launch of this round of negotiations in November 2001. The 44-page draft Ministerial Declaration highlights the progress to date.

"We can see clearly where possible convergences exist, where divergences lie, and where timelines must be set to give direction to the process after Hong Kong," John Tsang said.

He added the delegates' task was to build on the declaration, raise the level of agreement, and agree on a clear roadmap for work in 2006.

"Let us show the world that the WTO is alive and well, and is fully capable of delivering results that matter to people everywhere," he said.

When WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy addressed the members, he said he was impressed with the outstanding work Hong Kong had done to prepare for the conference. "The facilities, the logistics andmost importantly, the hospitality have been quite extraordinary," he said.

He noted reaching agreement in the WTO is difficult because it is a bottom-up process. "It takes more time, it is more burdensome and cumbersome, but I am convinced it remains the best way to take decisions that impact directly the lives of billions of people."

Difficult as this process may be, he said, "even immensely difficult decisions can be taken in the WTO. What is needed are negotiators that are bold, open-minded and prepared to take some risks."

He hoped the delegates could build on two important recent agreements in support of least developed countries, including one that will help their governments acquire essential medicines to combat pandemics.

"With good will, a bit of courage and plenty of hard work, we can build on this success this week and advance our negotiations so that we can achieve our ambition of concluding the Doha round by the end of next year," he said.