Source: Xinhuanet

11-16-2006 18:07

HANOI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing Thursday urged closer cooperation among the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members in economy, technology, anti-corruption, human security and anti-terrorism.

The APEC member economies should take concrete and effective capacity-building measures to realize the Bogor goals, and give full play to the trade liberalization and facilitation, Li said on the sidelines of the APEC ministerial meeting.

Therefore, they should identify priorities in their cooperation and specify cooperation projects under the guidance of the Steering Committee on Economic and Technological Cooperation (ECOTECH) of APEC Senior Official's Meeting, he added.

The Bogor goals, adopted by APEC leaders at their 1994 meeting in Bogor, Indonesia, aims at achieving free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region by 2010 for industrialized economies and 2020 for developing ones.

China is willing to work closely with other APEC members to promote their cooperation in health and energy security, which is seen vital to economic development and social stability in the Asia-Pacific region, the minister said.

On the anti-corruption cooperation, Li said China supports APEC members to implement the anti-corruption action plan, especially in the fight against money-laundering and arrest of corrupt individuals.

Meanwhile, China is firmly against terrorism in any form, and has actively taken part in the anti-terrorism activities under the auspices of the United Nations, he said, adding that APEC should play an appropriate role in anti-terrorism so as to secure the business environment in the Asia-Pacific.

The Ministerial Meeting, or dual-ministerial meeting, is attended by ministers of the 21 APEC member economies in charge of foreign affairs and trade to prepare for the Nov. 18-19 Economic Leaders' Meeting.

 

Editor:Sun Luying