China said yesterday that the indefinite suspension of global free trade talks is a setback to all members of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Doha Round of negotiations are critical to a balanced and orderly development of the world economy, said Chong Quan, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce.

"We will work with other sides and  try to resume negotiations as soon as possible," said Chong.

He made the remarks after the trade talks, seen as a once-in-a-generation chance to boost growth and ease poverty around the world, collapsed following nearly five years of haggling because of wide gaps between key players. Resumption of talks could take years.

WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy suspended the negotiations on Monday after talks among six major members broke down. Ministers from Australia, Brazil, the European Union, India, Japan and the United States had met in Geneva to try to follow up on instructions from the St Petersburg Summit of the Group of Eight industrial nations on July 17.

Lamy told heads of delegations in the informal meeting that he would recommend a "time out" to the General Council tomorrow. He did not suggest how long the talks would be suspended.

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