Finance Minister Jin Renqing met respectively with seven
counterparts from APEC members in two days to discuss issues of
common concern, especially those about economic and trade
cooperation.
Jin told Xinhua News Agency that during the 13th APEC
(Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Finance Ministers' Meeting that
concluded in Hanoi, Vietnam yesterday, he held successful bilateral
meetings with the finance ministers from seven countries, including
Vietnam, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, New Zealand and
Singapore, and discussed such issues as promotion of bilateral
economic and trade cooperation, and international economic
integration.
China treasures the construction of bilateral free trade areas
with the seven nations, which are among China's important trading
partners, he said, adding that they will jointly research new laws
of global economy for the national benefits of developing
countries.
In recent years, trade and economic cooperation between China
and the seven nations has been progressing quickly, he said, noting
that China has constructed broad multilateral and bilateral trade
cooperation ties.
At the two-day ministerial meeting, APEC finance ministers
reaffirmed their relevant commitments and put forth measures to
jointly secure stable and efficient revenue sources, and develop
robust and sound financial services sectors.
Since its inception in 1989, the 21-member APEC, which gathers
some of the world's large economies including China, the US,
Russia, Japan, Singapore and Vietnam, has worked to reduce tariffs
and other trade barriers across the Asia-Pacific region, create
efficient domestic economies, and dramatically increase
exports.
(Xinhua News Agency September 9, 2006)