Canada will argue for the importance of free trade as an antidote to the global economic crisis at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum to beheld in Peru this weekend, government officials said Friday.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who departs for Peru Friday, believes that free and open markets are the best way to ensure that global economy rebounds quickly, the officials said.
APEC leaders will be using the meeting as an opportunity to follow up on last week's G20 financial summit in Washington, and sign on a 47-point strategy that endorsed new safeguards for the global financial system.
Tom d'Aquino, president of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, said APEC leaders must push hard to keep markets open.
"The worst thing in the world at a time of great difficulty would be if people would try to build up barriers and fortresses against direct foreign investment or the openness of international trade," d'Aquino said.
Leaders are expected to discuss a regional free-trade zone between the group's 21 members. Canada is also studying regional economic integration with eight of the member nations.
APEC members are also expected to endorse a new commitment to wrap up the broad outline of an agreement on the current round of global trade talks, known as the Doha Round, by the end of December.
Source:Xinhua
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