APEC sets ball rolling for free trade

Members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum have agreed to begin moves to form a free trade area for the region, a senior official said on Friday.

It was widely agreed to continue to promote regional economic integration and begin the process of forming a Free Trade Area for Asia-Pacific, said Zhang Jun, director of the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It was also agreed to further promote economic structural reform, facilitate innovation, and strengthen regional links to sustain economic development in the Asia-Pacific region, Zhang said.