MUNICH, Germany World Trade Organization Chief, Mike Moore, expressed optimism in a newspaper interview here Friday regarding the chances for the launch of a new round of trade liberalization talks this year.

WTO ministers failed to launch a new round of trade talks at their 1999 meeting in Seattle, largely because developing nations, which make up the bulk of WTO membership, refused to commit to new accords, complaining they had yet to see the fruits of existing agreements.

But the chances for the launch of new talks at the upcoming conference in Doha in November were better, the WTO director general told the Friday edition of the daily **** Sueddeutsche Zeitung ****.

"The chances are much better than they were a year ago. We have enough time, until the end of July, to create the conditions for a new round of talks, which could then be launched at the ministerial conference in Qatar in November."

What was needed was political will and the readiness to take responsibility, Moore told the newspaper.

"If delegates simply stick to their previous positions in the coming weeks then we will see in Qatar the same results as in Seattle. But I believe that the parties have understood that they can only push through their demands if they show understanding for the other countries' wishes. Substantial progress has been made here," Moore said.

Regarding China's entry to the WTO, Moore said that he was "convinced that China will be a member at the conference in Qatar. But of course all member countries must approve entry."

Moore said that the main bone of contention regarding Chinese membership had been the wrangle over agricultural subsidies.

"I must emphasize that a completion of the talks has been prevented by the problems in agriculture."

China is battling to be treated as a developing country and to be allowed subsidies of up to 10 percent of the price of agricultural products.

Developed countries can only subsidize their agricultural products to the tune of five percent under WTO rules.

Also on the agenda were membership of other countries, such as Croatia and Saudi Arabia, Moore said.

"In the next few weeks, I'm going to travel to Moscow to see if Russian membership cannot be accelerated."

When Moore took over as WTO chief "entry negotiations were perceived to take 10 years. Nowadays, we're talking about shorter periods. Entry depends largely on Russia itself. Negotiations can have a positive effect on economic reforms and provide an important signal for international business."