U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick told Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi on Thursday that a four-way ministerial meeting should be held next month in Paris under the World Trade Organization, according to a ministry official.

Zoellick voiced hope that ministers from the United States, Japan, Canada and the European Union would meet on the sidelines of the ministerial conference of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, scheduled for May 15 and 16.

He said the four countries should also invite representatives from other nations -- such as Brazil and South Africa -- to attend a special session aimed at addressing outstanding issues for the new WTO round, the official said.