The forthcoming 2014 informal economic leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum will make a great contribution to further consolidation of an equal and mutually beneficial partnership in the region, said Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The APEC economic leaders' meeting in Beijing on Nov. 10-11 will definitely become one of the key regional events of this year, Putin said in an interview with leading Chinese news media ahead of his trip to Beijing.
China, as the chair of the 2014 APEC economic leaders' meeting, has prepared a huge package of initiatives, he said, citing a Beijing-drafted roadmap to launch the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific as an example.
"We intend to pursue our traditionally close, constructive cooperation with President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping during the future discussions, including in the implementation of the Summit decisions," Putin said.
Hailing the progressive development of APEC during the last 25 years, the president said, "The role of APEC as an effective coordinating mechanism for building a new regional architecture is indispensable."
Russia, he added, actively participates in APEC activities. "Full-scale participation of our country in regional integration processes contributes to the development of national economy and social sphere, to the development of the regions of Siberia and the Far East."
Source: XINHUA