APEC leaders arrive at Singapore president's office, unveiling leaders meeting

SINGAPORE, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- APEC leaders arrived at the Istana, Singapore President's office and residence, Saturday noon, unveiling the 17th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting slated on Nov. 14-15.

Major topics at the meeting include the global financial crisis, climate change, anti-protectionism, multilateral trading system, regional integration and the future development of the APEC.

U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to arrive at 10 p.m. Saturday, the APEC Secretariat confirmed with Xinhua, adding that he will not be able to attend Saturday's APEC Economic Leaders Meeting and the Singapore Evening, a musical gala prepared by Singapore to welcome the heads of state and top representatives.

Leaders and representatives from the APEC economies, including Chinese President Hu Jintao, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, will have two retreat meetings over Saturday and Sunday, after which a leaders' declaration will be issued to serve as APEC's road for the next year and beyond.

The APEC currently has 21 member economies: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, China' Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. The chairmanship rotates among members, with Singapore holding the chair this year.