Brazil's candidate for WTO chief vows to rebuild consensus

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's candidate for top job of the World Trade Organization (WTO) said Thursday that if elected he will rebuild consensus between developed and developing countries.

Speaking at a news conference in Brasilia, Roberto Azevedo, Brazil's ambassador to the WTO, stressed the importance of building consensus and negotiating within the WTO.

He expressed discontent with the current paralysis of the Doha Round of world trade talks, which began in 2001.

"It's fundamental that the future director general be able to move easily among the different groups of countries, regardless of their level of development, without imposing views on anyone and trying to forge all possible consensus," Azevedo said.

Azevedo expressed his hope to resume the long-stalled Doha Round of talks, which focus on opening up new markets to help the world's poorest countries prosper through trade.

Azevedo, 55, who is also the representative of Brazil to several other economic organizations, said the Brazilian government is helping promote his candidacy, and the next WTO director-general should be from a developing nation.

Azevedo will face eight contenders from New Zealand, Ghana, Mexico, Costa Rica, South Korea, Kenya, Jordan and Indonesia.

The election will take place between March and May, and the winner will take office on Aug. 31, when current WTO chief Pascal Lamy steps down.

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