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)