The Second Senior Officials Meeting (SOM II) of the 13th APEC Ministerial Meeting entered its second day Sunday in this special economic zone of south China's Guangdong Province.

Senior officials from 21 APEC member economies will continue their discussions on trade and investment liberalization, economic and technical cooperation of APEC, new economy and regional macro- policy dialog, in preparation for the 9th APEC Informal Leadership Meeting and the 13th Ministerial Meeting scheduled in Shanghai October.

The SOM II is presided over by Wang Guangya, Chinese vice foreign minister and SOM Chair.

On Friday, senior officials held a one-day retreat, at which they exchanged views on issues including how APEC can contribute to the early launching of a new-round of WTO negotiations.

Various committees and fora also discussed the specific work of APEC in their respective fields at the related meetings from May 26 to 31 in Shenzhen. China plays host to all the four SOM meetings this year and other APEC-related conferences, in the run- up to the APEC Informal Leadership Meeting. The SOM I was held February in Beijing.

APEC, one of the key economic forums in the region, has established a working mechanism ranging from informal leadership meetings to ministerial meetings, senior officials' meetings, secretariat, committees, groups and advisory council.

(Xinhua 06/03/2001)