Asian-Pacific leaders gather for APEC summit

cctv.com 10-18-2003 12:53

Ministers and senior leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, or the APEC forum, have opened a two-day meeting in the Thai capital, Bangkok. They are there to finalize the agenda for an upcoming APEC Economic Leaders Meeting.

The APEC ministers were escorted by security convoys as they arrived on Friday morning at Thailand's Foreign Ministry to begin their talks. Free trade by 2010 for developed member economies, and by 2020 for developing members is APEC's core mission.

But its leaders, including US President George W. Bush, will also use the meeting to discuss ways of improving security in a region prone to terrorist attacks. Bush and others see security issues as being closely linked to the prospects of stable economic growth.

Editor:Han  Source:CCTV.com