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The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, will depart for Qingdao tomorrow (May 16) to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting to be held on May 17 and 18.
During the MRT Meeting, trade ministers from APEC member economies will discuss the three priorities for APEC this year under the theme "Shaping the Future through Asia-Pacific Partnership". They are advancing regional economic integration; promoting innovative development, economic reform and growth; and strengthening comprehensive connectivity and infrastructure development.
Ministers will also exchange views on how APEC could further support the multilateral trading system subsequent to the successful conclusion of the Bali Package achieved during the Ninth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) last year. The Director-General of the WTO, Mr Roberto Azevêdo, will brief ministers on the state of play of the Bali Package implementation, discussions in Geneva on the post-Bali work and the ways forward.
Mr So will be back in Hong Kong on May 18.
Ends/Thursday, May 15, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:30
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