'We are expecting clear roadmap after this meeting. So far as India's stand is concerned we are for a rule-based trading regime, which is fair and equitable,' said Sharma, who is seen as a key interlocutor in reviving the stalled trade talks.

'The agenda is to correct distortions in existing trade and to give opportunities to poor and developing nations,' he said, adding that was the reason why the present trade talks were being called the Doha Development Round.

He also said that the current attempts by some countries to resort to protectionism, in the wake of the sharp economic downturn in the global economy, will only deepen the crisis further and delay the recovery process.

The current round of trade talks had kicked off in the Qatari capital Doha in 2001 but have successively met with a stalemate, mainly on account of sharp differences between the rish and developing countries on issues like farm subsidies and market access.