(AFP) The government will support a new round of World Trade Organisation (WTO) liberalisation talks only if a fair agenda for developing countries can be agreed, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.

"If the agenda suits us, we would want to support the next round of WTO talks," Mahathir told reporters at the end of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit in Shanghai.

"If we don't have a proper agenda, it may be possible that some (countries) will bring in extraneous matters, things that are not related to trade but which will have a bad effect on poorer countries.

"We are going to go to Doha and we are going to make our views heard there."

A WTO ministerial meeting is scheduled for November 9-13 in the Qatari capital of Doha, but the venue is still uncertain amid security concerns about holding a major gathering in the Middle East in the current climate.

While seeking to start a new round of talks, Mahathir noted that there were still "many unfinished promises" which had to be attended to.

"We hoped that the agreements that have been reached in the (1994) Uruguay Round would be implemented. Even if we have to go to a new round... the previous agreements still remain valid and they should be implemented."

Outstanding isues

Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz listed the outstanding issues as covering farming, services and industrial tariffs.

She said disagreement over new issues such as competition policy, investment rules, environmental protection and government procurement were threatening to scuttle the launch of a new WTO round.

Rafidah said this week on the APEC sidelines that there would be "no chance" of a new round being launched to revive the drive abandoned at Seattle in 1999, if countries were not allowed to "opt out" of contentious issues.

Mahathir also said the September 11 attacks on the United States had had a "profound effect on the perception and thinking of the world" in its rush for globalisation.

He said the "shock" of the US tragedy would reduce "capitalism absolute, capitalism with its emphasis on unlimited greed".

This was reflected in the just-ended APEC forum where there was "a willingness to be more flexible" and to more concerned about the needs of developing nations, he said.

'Different attitude'

Mahathir acknowledged there was a "different attitude in the US towards market opening and access" after last month's tragedy but this was partly due to the new administration of President George W Bush.

"The present government seems to be a little more concerned with the weaknesses of the developing countries and not too insistent that everybody should comply with the same rules, regulations and practises."

The premier,a strong critic of unfettered globalisation, reiterated that some countries should be allowed to protect their markets "at least for some time until they can grow".

While Malaysia welcomed foreign investors, "investments with the intention of knocking out the local companies is something that we do not welcome", he added.