China has played a constructive role in the Doha Round trade talks, putting the country in a strong position to seek a rebate on new market opening commitments, Pascal Lamy, director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO) said in Geneva on Thursday.

"China has been very much involved in the negotiations since they were launched in 2001. It may not always be evident to journalists how much the Chinese are working to advance the talks, but it's very clear to me," Lamy told Xinhua in an interview.

"China has been a constructive influence, working very hard in defense of its national interests but also working to narrow differences among our members in key areas," he said.

Lamy also said he appreciates the hard work and support that China has exhibited in the negotiations.

As to China's concern in future negotiations, Lamy said the country had reason to ask for a "rebate" on new market opening commitments because, as a recently acceded WTO member, it had already made more commitments than most developing countries.

"China will be asking for a rebate on new market opening commitments. I believe the other members will not object, provided this rebate remains reasonable and China also brings its contribution to the round," he said.

Since its entry into the WTO in 2001, China has cut its tariffs according to the commitments to the world trade organization.

Take its overall agricultural tariff for example. It has been slashed to 15.3 percent from the previous 54 percent and is expected to drop to 15.2 percent in 2006.

The world's average agricultural tariff stands at 62 percent.

Bo Xilai, Chinese minister of commerce, told the sixth WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December last year that "no other member in the WTO history has made such a huge cut in such a short period of time, even the developed members."

Experts say China is now facing a very unfair international agricultural trade environment. Many developed countries, like those in the European Union, and the United States, give various kinds of subsidies to their farmers and set technical barriers against Chinese products.

"From the strategic perspective, China needs a fair trade environment if it wants to solve its agricultural problems. If the Doha Round talks could move forward on agricultural issues, namely market access, domestic support and export subsidies, a more fair and open world market might be built," said Cheng Guoqiang, researcher from China's State Council Development and Research Center.

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2006)