SINGAPORE HOPES FOR APEC TO BRING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH TO THE REGION

SINGAPORE, Nov 3 (Bernama) - Singapore hopes the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) leaders meeting it is hosting next week will help bring
sustainable growth and integrate the region.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he also hoped the meeting would push
APEC's free trade and economic agenda forward and progress from where it last
left off.

Speaking at a media briefing on APEC at the Istana here, Lee said the effect
of the meeting on Singapore might be indirect but there would be a real and
significant effect to the region in that, it could help bring a regional
environment of peace, cooperation and prosperity.

The APEC leaders from 21 economies will meet at the Istana -- where the
republic's President S R Nathan and Prime Minister Lee have an office each --
from Nov 14-15.

Lee also said the grouping would be focusing on longer-term issues that
would foster growth in the region, such as, promoting free trade and unlocking
trade barriers as APEC members emerge from recession.

"We will be discussing on how to advance APEC's core mission, which is to
advance free trade and open markets in the Asia-Pacific," he said.

He also said the meeting would consolidate a network of free trade
agreements which had sprung up among its members so as to reduce the
administrative complexities and overheads of businesses.

On the local front, Lee said Singapore's economy is expected not to take
another dip in the coming period, adding that, the city state had recorded a 0.8
percent growth in the third quarter on year.

The prime minister however said the republic's economy would not see a
dramatic recovery although it had stabilised.
- BERNAMA