BUSAN, South Korea, Nov. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Asia-Pacific trade ministers agreed Tuesday to give a boost to the stalled global trade talks that will resume in Hong Kong next month, sources close to the meeting said.

    The agreement came as ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum met with World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Pascal Lamy on the sidelines of the forum under way in South Korea's port city of Busan.

    The ministers and the director-general of the WTO discussed a wide-range of issues, including the opening of agricultural and non-agricultural markets, according to the sources.

    They discussed the upcoming Hong Kong meeting, which officials believe would decide the future of the current round of WTO talks which began in the Qatari capital of Doha in 2001.

    Both sides pledged joint efforts to move forward the stalled global talks aimed at liberalizing agricultural and other trade by lowering tariffs, said one source, requesting anonymity.

    The so-called Doha round of WTO talks bogged down in a bitter dispute over agricultural subsidies, which has pitted mainly rich nations against developing nations.

    Developing countries also argue that farm subsidies in rich nations such as the United States and EU countries depress global prices and prevent growers in poor nations from competing.

    The European Union has rejected demands by the United States, Australia and some other APEC members to impose greater cuts in the subsidies.

    The WTO talks have been stalled since the previous WTO ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico, in 2003 ended without agreement in the face of violent street protests by anti-globalization protesters.

    APEC's trade ministers in Busan are so concerned about the shaky WTO negotiations that they are expected to issue a joint statement voicing support for the Hong Kong meeting when they end a two-day meeting on Wednesday, South Korean officials said.

    "It is high time for APEC members to unite as a single voice and help make a breakthrough in the World Trade Organization's Doha talks with the Hong Kong at hand," South Korea's Foreign and Trade Minister Ban Ki-moon said in a speech at the first-day meeting of trade ministers on Tuesday.

    Leaders from the 21 APEC members will begin their summit on Friday, with focus on the issue of trade liberalization. They will also discuss joint efforts to fight terrorism, bird flu and corruption. Enditem