Ministers at the 21st Foreign and Economic Ministerial Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum approved many important orientations, especially highlighted the importance of fostering cooperation to achieve the Bogor Goals of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by 2020.

They agreed to build and establish a cooperation framework for regional connectivity after two-day of sitting in Bali , Indonesia.

Participants said in the current context of global crisis, APEC needs to overcome regional and global challenges, including issues of climate change, food and energy security, social evils, especially corruption, affirming the important role played by APEC in fostering the growth of global economy.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa affirmed that the goals will be realised through increasing flows of labour resources, goods and service, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, security and infrastructure development and investment promotion.

Meanwhile, Indonesia Minister of Trade Gita Wirjawan highlighted the important role played by APEC in bringing more prosperity to the Asian Pacific Region, saying that the target of free trade in the region by 2020 was feasible.

However, he noted that APEC needs to ensure equitable benefit for all its members from free trade and investment in order to narrow economic gaps between the member countries as well as enhance social welfare.

Speaking at the meeting, General Director of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Roberto Azevedo said he believed that APEC as well as WTO member countries will work actively to promote Doha Round negotiations.

The meeting, which was co-chaired by Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and Minister of Trade Gita Wirjawan of the host Indonesia , was attended by 23 minister and many deputy ministers of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, General Secretary of ASEAN Le Luong Minh and General Director of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Roberto Azevedo.

The Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu attended the event.

At the closing ceremony on October 5, the meeting issued a joint statement and five documents referring to education cooperation promotion; fast track travel in emergency cases ; promotion of clean energy and renewable energy; f ighting corruption and ensuring transparency, promoting s ustainable health system.

The documents will be submitted to APEC leaders for approval in the 21 st APEC Summit in the next few days.

Vietnam will host the APEC Ministers Meeting on Human Resources Development in 2014.-VNA