Reaching agreement on the Doha trade round would be a "win-win" situation for the developing and developed world, Clare Short has said.

Calling for a renewed focus on reaching agreement on issues such as CAP reform, the international development secretary said "Doha is not only about helping the world's poor but it is also in our own self-interest".

"It is wrong to assume that these are always in conflict. I firmly believe that a successful outcome to Doha would be a win - win for all concerned. Developing and developed countries alike stand to gain from a rules-based multilateral trading system," she told an audience in London.

"On the grounds of both morality and self interest, we must make international trade rules fairer so that the poor of the world have the chance to improve their lives and get access to the modern technology that we take for granted and could so easily be shared more widely.

"We should be in no doubt that the current system does not work for the poor. Africa's share of world trade halved between 1980 and 1999, and economic and income growth has been stagnating.

She warned that the protectionist policies of rich countries are restricting economic growth in developing countries.

"We should not forget that a successful Doha Round would also provide huge benefits for the world economy.

"The international economic climate is very uncertain. Global economic growth has slowed and stock market performance is weak."

Short called for "a stronger sway of public opinion" to push OECD countries to use the round to create fairer trading opportunities for poor countries.

"Failure in the Doha Round would mean a tragic missed opportunity to tackle the distortions and unfairness in trade rules that disadvantage the poorest producers and the poorest countries," she warned.

The international aid minister said that the progress in negotiations had "been painfully slow" to date.

"For now international political attention is inevitably focused on Iraq. But uncertainty and the slow down in the global economy makes it even more of an imperative to make a success of the Doha Trade Round," said Short.

"We need renewed and stronger political leadership from the EU, the US, and other developed countries, if we're to realise the bold development agenda set out in Doha."

She said the EU, America and Japan had a duty to deliver an agreement soon.

"European governments must face the reality that CAP reform is absolutely essential to this process. Without it the European Union will have little or no basis to reach a meaningful agreement in the trade negotiations," she said.

"But the main protagonists are still taking up opposite positions. If they do not shift - and the responsibility lies with the US and Japan as well as the EU - the Doha Development Round will be dead."