APEC Minister Begin Discussing 20 Deliverables

Nusa Dua, Bali, Oct 4 (Antara) - APEC ministers began their two-day meeting on Friday to discuss 20 deliverables and prepare a draft document for approval at APEC leaders summit from October 7 to 8. The document will be a part of the discussion at the APEC leaders summit, and if approved, it will lay a foundation for APEC activities for the next year, said Chairperson at the APEC senior officials meeting Ambassador Yuri Thamrin on Friday. Yuri handed the 20 deliverables containing developments in the discussion of issues at the APEC 2013 forum to Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa in the capacity as the co-chairperson of the APEC ministerial meeting (AMM), along with Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan. "APEC`s senior officials have agreed to bring up the 20 deliverables at the ministerial level meeting for approval," Yuri said. In the meeting, which brought together 21 APEC foreign and trade ministers, a draft document was created, which will be submitted to the APEC leaders summit for approval. Businessmen from the Asia-Pacific region, grouped in the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), were also part of the meeting. Chairperson of ABAC 2013 Wishnu Wardhana conveyed a report of ABAC activities in the last one year to APEC ministers. "Active participation of businessmen and businesswomen in the APEC meeting is part of the efforts to bring APEC relevancy closer to the Asia-Pacific community," said Wishnu, who is also the vice Indonesian foreign minister. At the end of Friday`s meeting, WTO`s Director General Roberto Azevedo briefed the attendees of the meeting on the latest global trade scenario.