Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members are discussing on
an anti-terrorism statement by APEC economic leaders, a
high-ranking Chinese official said Monday in Shanghai.
Wang Guangya, vice foreign minister of China and chair of APEC
Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM), said at a press conference Monday
evening that the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United
States has aroused worldwide attention.
The statement under discussion by APEC members is expected to
express strong condemnation of the terrorist event, and call for
all APEC members to strengthen international cooperation in
fighting terrorism, according to Wang.
Noting that the United Nations has passed a resolution on fighting
terrorism, Wang said that it is natural for the APEC economic
leaders to discuss topics regarding anti-terrorism during their
meeting in Shanghai, as the meeting is a very important
international meeting after the terrorist attacks in the United
States.
However, Wang stressed, the anti-terrorism discussion would not
change the nature of APEC meeting as an economic forum, and the
discussion is aimed at enhancing economic cooperation between APEC
member economies and realizing common prosperity.
Senior officials from 21 APEC member economies gathered at the SOM
here Monday. The meeting made final preparations for the upcoming
APEC Ministerial Meeting and APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.
(Xinhua News Agency 10/15/2001)