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The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma, will depart Hong Kong tomorrow (May 29) to attend two major trade fora in Peru and France respectively to demonstrate Hong Kong¡¦s continuous support for the multilateral trading system and regional co-operation.
He will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation¡¦s Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting (APEC MRT) in Arequipa, Peru, from May 30 to June 1. The theme of Peru APEC 2008 is ¡§A new commitment to the development of the Asia-Pacific¡¨. During the APEC MRT, members will review and discuss, inter alia, regional economic integration, trade facilitation, investment promotion, as well as food price escalation and corporate social responsibility.
While in Arequipa, Mr Ma will also have bilateral meetings with a number of trade ministers to discuss matters of mutual interest.
He will then fly to Paris, France, to participate in the Trade Session of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development¡¦s 2008 Ministerial Council Meeting. The Trade Session will discuss a range of economic policy issues, including future challenges for the multilateral trading system. While in Paris, Mr Ma will attend an informal meeting of trade ministers of member economies of the World Trade Organisation to take stock of the latest developments of the Doha Round negotiations and discuss possible actions to bring the round to a successful conclusion.
Mr Ma will return to Hong Kong on June 6 evening.
Ends/Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:17
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