The developmental agenda was agreed on during talks in Doha in 2001. It relates to issues important to developing nations such as reforming trade rules for agriculture and duty-free, quota-free access for the least-developed countries.

The minister was speaking ahead of the start of the eighth session of the conference which kicks off tomorrow.

He emphasised that South Africa wanted the developmental mandate to remain a focus at the session, adding that both African countries and Brics members share the view that development issues were fundamental.