BRAZIL'S ROBERTO AZEVEDO WINS RACE TO LEAD WTO

Geneva, May 8- Brazil's Roberto Azevedo has beaten Mexican veteran Herminio Blanco in the race to become the new leader of the World Trade Organization, according to reports.

Mr Azevedo, currently Brazil's ambassador to the 159-nation WTO, pipped the former Mexican trade chief in a final round, after seven other candidates stumbled earlier in the contest.

Mr Azevedo and Mr Blanco's campaign teams emerged tight-lipped from a meeting behind closed doors with Pakistan's WTO ambassador Shahid Bashir, who heads its Governing General Council.

A formal announcement is not due until Wednesday, when WTO members are scheduled to meet to discuss the contest.

However, on Tuesday night, Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff issued a statement, which stated: "The Brazilian Government welcomes the selection of Ambassador Roberto Azevêdo as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"Still under the effects of the global crisis that began in 2008, it will be up to the WTO in the coming years to give a new, balanced and vigorous impetus to world trade, which is fundamental for the global economy to enter a new period of growth and social justice.

"By nominating Ambassador Azevêdo as a candidate for this high office, Brazil was confident that his experience and commitment could lead the organization towards a more dynamic and fair world economic order.

"This message was understood by a significant majority and I therefore acknowledge the support that our candidate received from governments around the world during the three rounds of voting. This is not a victory for Brazil or a group of countries, but for the World Trade Organization”.

Along with his counterparts from Canada and Sweden, Mr Bashir has spent weeks gauging countries' views on who is likely to muster the most support.

The current head of the WTO, Frenchman Pascal Lamy, is due to step down on September 1 after two four-year terms at the helm.

His successor will face the tough task of trying to breath life into the WTO's moribund "Doha Round" of trade liberalisation talks, launched in 2001 with the goal of using international commerce to boost development in poorer member states.

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