Japan will try to act as a bridge between developed and developing countries when ministers from about 30 major trading powers converge on Geneva this weekend in the hope of achieving a breakthrough in the long-stalled Doha Round of trade liberalization talks.
It is widely believed the gathering will provide the last opportunity for a while to strike a deal on a new framework to further free up global trade under the auspices of the World Trade Organization.
Almost all WTO negotiators are aware that reaching an outline deal by the end of this year is crucial, despite their differing positions.