Special: President Hu Attends Financial Summit, APEC Meeting, Visits Four Nations 

Special Report: Global Financial Crisis

     PERU, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming called Wednesday for APEC member economies to reject unilateralism and trade protectionism in order to tackle the international financial crisis.

Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming prepares to attend the 20th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting in Lima, capital of Peru, on Nov. 19, 2008. The Ministerial Meeting started on Wednesday to make the final preparations for the APEC Leaders' Meeting on the weekend. The two-day meeting will discuss global economic issues, APEC's support for the WTO Doha Round negotiations and the APEC regional economic integration. (Xinhua/Wang Han) Photo Gallery>>>

    Chen made the call while addressing the 20th ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday in the Peruvian capital.

    APEC members should adopt an approach of fair and just multilateralism in trade and regionalism characterized by openness and tolerance, Chen said.

    He called for the developed members in the bloc to shoulder more responsibilities.

    He also appealed for headway in the stalled Doha Round talks of the World Trade Organization (WTO), noting the current priority is to turn the political will into practice.

    China will stick to its policy of opening up, abide by the WTO rules and fulfill its obligations as a WTO member, Chen said.

    He said China will make concerted efforts with other APEC member economies to keep the Asia-Pacific region as one of the most open, confident and energetic places in the world.

    China, Chen said, supports the regional integration process in various forms within the APEC framework to facilitate the promotion of convenience for trade and investment, the creation of favorable trade environment, trade increase and economic development in the region.