Peru has beefed up security and deployed volunteers in key locations in the capital city in the run-up to the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Leaders' Week which kicks off here on Sunday.
The Leaders' Week will gather a record 3,600 delegates, including leaders, ministers and senior officials, who will discuss the ongoing global financial crisis, human security initiatives, food and energy security, climate change, structural reform and corporate social responsibility.
The APEC Leaders' Week, which will run through Nov. 23, will be the most significant international meeting ever hosted by Peru.
Volunteers and staff from the organizing committee have already been well placed in the capital's airport, hotels and meeting venues to assist the delegates and journalists arriving in Peru.
The largest delegation is expected to come from the United States with over 900 delegates, followed by Japan with around 500,and China with 300.
The International Media Center is also ready to receive some 2,600 local and foreign journalists.
"APEC is a unique opportunity for Peruvians... It is foreseen that in the following years investments in Peru will be up to 10 billion dollars. These investments will be coming from the Asia-Pacific Region," Chairman of the APEC Peru High-Level Commission Luis Giampietri, who presides over the event, said in a statement.
According to Peruvian Trade and Tourism Minister Mercedes Araoz, the United States will announce the full validity of the Peru-U.S. Free Trade Agreement on Jan. 1, 2009, during the visit by U.S. President George W. Bush.
Security remains a grave concern for the host nation of such a high-level meeting. Peruvian Vice President Luis Giampietri said security measures before, during and after Leaders' Week are guaranteed.
"For the first time in Peru, an Integrated Surveillance Video Network has been created, composed by over 200 video-surveillance cameras... placed in areas the leaders' motorcades will pass through," said Giampietri.
Meanwhile, 687 security officers from the member economies will arrive as part of the Security Plan established by the APEC 2008 Organizing Commission.
The APEC Leaders' Week begins with APEC Concluding Senior Officials' Meeting on Nov. 16-17, followed by APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) on Nov. 18-20, APEC Ministers' Meeting on Nov. 19-20, APEC CEO Summit on Nov. 20-22 and APEC Leader's Meeting on Nov. 23-24.
APEC, established in Australia in 1989, groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, China's Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.
The chairmanship rotates among its members with Peru holding the chair this year.
Source:Xinhua
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