Special Report: Hu Jintao visits 4 Asian nations, attends APEC Meeting

    HANOI, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders on Sunday called for more investment from the member economies in energy and boost energy efficiency and conservation.

    In the Hanoi Declaration issued at the end of their two-day annual meeting at the National Convention Center in Hanoi, the leaders noted energy security is critical for sustainable economic development, but energy demands are growing rapidly.

    They urged their 21 member economies to continue to work to facilitate energy investments and energy trade, and to develop new and renewable energy sources and technologies.

    For this purpose, the leaders commended the launch of the APEC Biofuels Task Force.

    The leaders instructed the APEC ministers to report to them in 2007 on ways in which APEC might further contribute to the development of clearer energy and the improvement of energy efficiency.

    APEC currently has 21 members, accounting for more than one-third of the world's population, about 60 percent of the world's gross domestic product and about 47 percent of world trade.

    Asia-pacific represents the most economically dynamic region in the world.