A meeting of top-level officials from the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) began in Santiago Sunday to finalize agreements on trade, anti-corruption, sustainable development and security.  

The two-day meeting aims to prepare the agenda for the 12th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting scheduled for Nov. 20-21.

APEC was set up in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies.

It now groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the Philippines, the United States and Vietnam.

(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2004)