By Christine T. Tjandraningsih
NUSA DUA, Indonesia, (PNA/Kyodo) — The 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum started Tuesday a series of meetings in Bali aimed at restoring trust in multilateralism and resisting protectionist pressures that have been rising amid the slowdown of the global economy.
APEC senior officials are expected to agree by Wednesday on a set of recommendations to be presented to APEC leaders for possible inclusion in a joint declaration to be issued at their two-day summit starting Saturday at a beach resort on this Indonesian island.
The leaders will also issue a separate statement reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the multilateral trading system and safeguarding trade expansion to facilitate economic growth, job creation and sustainable development, while they will extend by one year, through the end of 2016, a “standstill” commitment made in 2008 to refrain from introducing new barriers to trade and investment, according to APEC officials.