Leaders from APEC member economies ended their two-day summit meeting on Sunday with a declaration on regional economic integration, human security and other issues.

The theme for this year's meeting, "A New Commitment to Asia-Pacific Development," highlighted the importance of reducing the gap between developed and developing member economies, said the document.

"We are committed to strengthening the social dimension of globalisation and ensuring that all members and all sectors of our economies can access the skills and opportunities to participate in, and benefit from, regional and global trade and investment," it said.

In the declaration, the leaders said the current global financial crisis "is one of the most serious economic challenges we have ever face."

"We will act quickly and decisively to address the impending global economic slowdown...and will take necessary economic and financial measures to resolve this crisis," they said.

On regional economic integration, the leaders said their goal of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region would be achieved through a series of unilateral reform measures combined with bilateral, regional and multinational liberalization.

In the document, the leaders expressed their commitment to improving food security, combating corruption, fighting terrorism and enhancing human security, and ensuring clean development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Nineteen leaders from the APEC member economies attended the summit, part of the Leaders' Week on November 16-23.

Chinese President Urges APEC Members to Boost Economic Integration

Chinese President Hu Jintao said Sunday that the member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum should boost economic integration and strengthen human security in the region.

Hu made the call in a speech delivered at the second day of the APEC economic leaders' meeting in the Peruvian capital of Lima.

In the speech, he said that the regional economic integration process has made constant progress, with trade and economic ties between APEC member economies getting increasingly closer.

"We should encourage and support this positive trend," he said, adding that the current pressing task is to attain the Bogor Goals as scheduled and push forward the Doha Round of talks of the World Trade Organization.

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2008)