China says collapse of WTO talks a 'tragic failure'

China said the collapse of World Trade Organization talks was a "tragic failure" and expressed disappointment over the inability of those involved to reach a consensus.

"This is a tragic failure," Commerce Minister Chen Deming said in a statement posted on his ministry's website.

China, like other countries, was "very disappointed", he said.

"Particularly in the face of a world economic downturn, serious inflation and imminent financial risks, the failure will have a major impact on the fragile multilateral trading system," he said.