Beijing, Feb 18 (IANS): China's commerce ministry announced the country is set to host the G20 trade ministers meeting in Shanghai in July, a media report said on Thursday.

"China took over the rotating G20 presidency on December 1, 2015, and a series of meetings have been started successively through various channels. As a department which coordinates trade and investment cooperation, the ministry of commerce will host the G20 trade ministers meetings from July 9 to 10 this year in Shanghai," ministry spokesman Shen Danyang said.

Shen said G20 member states have strong desire to enhance trade and investment cooperation amid the slowdown of global trade and economy, the People's Daily reported.

"China hopes member nations, through trade ministers' meetings and a series of work team meetings, will carry out in-depth discussions over issues including constructing a trade and investment platform among G20 countries, promoting global trade growth, supporting a multilateral trade system, enhancing coordination and cooperation of investment policies, and advancing an inclusive and coordinated global value chain," Shen added.

The next annual G20 summit is also scheduled to be held in China in September.