The 21st APEC Ministers Meeting (AMM-21) opened in Singapore's Suntec Convention Centre on Nov. 11, with a focus on the multilateral trading system and regional economic integration in the post-crisis era.

During the two-day meeting, the Foreign and Trade ministers and representatives of the 21 APEC member economies will review the work done in 2009 on regional economic integration and make the final preparations for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting scheduled for Nov. 14-15.

They are also expected to voice their support for the multilateral trading system, while taking stock of trade-related developments in the Asia-Pacific region and the progress made after the Doha Round of WTO negotiations.

The ministers confirmed that they supported maintaining current economic stimulus packages, in a bid to avoid a “double digit recession” as well as opposing all forms of trade protectionism.

The APEC ministers will also discuss issues such as turning the Asia-Pacific region into a Free Trade Area to achieve “sustainable and inclusive” economic growth around the region so that all member economies and populations can benefit from economic integration.

Another issue to be discussed at the AMM-21 will be climate change, as the important United Nations convention on the issue will take place in Copenhagen , Denmark in less than a month.

The APEC ministers are likely to call for a sharp reduction of greenhouse gases and support for “green growth”./.