Useful tool: WTO Director General Pascal Lamy presents a gavel to Ministerial Conference Chairman John Tsang at the meeting's conclusion.

WTO Sixth Ministerial Conference Chairman John Tsang has described the meeting as 'very successful' after members endorsed a compromise deal that clears the way for an international trade pact by the end of 2006.

After nearly 100 hours of intense negotiations, delegates agreed to eliminate farm export subsidies by the end of  2013, and to grant duty-free and quota-free privileges to at least 97% of least-developed countries' exports by 2008. Other issues will be settled later, and no date or place was set for the next ministerial meeting.

Mr Tsang, Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology, said delegates had expressed much appreciation for Hong Kong's efforts as host of the event.

He also condemned violent protesters for their actions."Hong Kong is a law-abiding place. We condemn these kinds of behaviours, and the actions of the Hong Kong Police deserve our admiration," he said.

He noted efforts had not gone to waste since the meeting had provided a development package aimed at helping the least developed countries. "By 2013 export subsidies will be removed and developed countries will give tariff-free treatment to the developing countries," he said.

There is now a roadmap for the way ahead, and this meeting had come much further than seemed possible even two weeks ago, he said.

He urged delegates to give themselves a short holiday in Hong Kong as they had all earned it.

Lamy effusive in praise for Hong Kong

WTO Director General Pascal Lamy was effusive in his praise of Hong Kong as host. "Thank you for your impeccable organisation," he said. "Thanks to your Government, your organisation team, thousands of volunteer citizens who spared no effort to provide perfect logistical arrangements."

He added: "This week has shown us that where there is a common will there is a common way."

Participants had put the Doha Development Agenda "back on track, gave it a new sense of urgency, made quantititave improvements," he said.

While members were about 55% of the way towards reaching a consensus on coming into this meeting, they were now about 60% of the way.

"We have new political fuel to make cruising speed by 2006," he said, adding the round had been rebalanced in favour of developing countries.