APEC leaders discuss world trade, terrorism

cctv.com 10-21-2003 09:10

21 leaders from the region are in Bangkok for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. High on the agenda is an attempt to salvage the Doha Round of world trade talks. Regional economic cooperation and strengthening the fight against terrorism also dominated Monday's opening of the 11th APEC Informal Leaders meeting.

Leaders of the 21 APEC members will throw their support behind the troubled global multilateral trading system on the opening day of their forum.

The first-day session will focus on the need for flexibility and political will to bring the Doha Round of WTO talks to a successful conclusion. Leaders are also expected to discuss ways to further liberalize trade and investment. This is to fulfill the Bogor Goals of opening free trade between APEC's developed members by 2010 and between developing members by 2020.

This year's APEC leaders' meeting comes one month after the collapse of the World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico, and one year after the devastating terror attacks on the Indonesian island of Bali, which killed 202 people.

Editor:Su  Source:CCTV.com