Chinese President Hu Jintao (C front) attends the second session of the 18th Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Yokohama, Japan, Nov. 14, 2010. [Lan Hongguang/Xinhua]

The 18th Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) started its second session Sunday morning. Chinese President Hu Jintao dwelled on China's stand on issues discussed at the session.

The APEC leaders exchanged views on regional economic integration, the assessment of achievement of Bogor Goals by APEC economies, the Doha round talks of the World Trade Organization and the future of APEC.

President Hu said that this year marked the deadline for the industrialized APEC economies to achieve the Bogor Goals of free and open trade and investment, adopted at a 1994 APEC summit in Indonesia.

"APEC should continue to uphold the spirit of the Bogor Goals, adapt to the changing situation and actively tackle new challenges, leverage its own strengths and further improve itself," he said.

The Chinese leader proposed that APEC should play a bigger role in three areas.

First, further promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation and accelerate regional economic integration.

Second, expeditiously implement the APEC Growth Strategy and improve the quality of economic growth.

Third, enhance economic and technical cooperation to strengthen developing members' capacity for development and their internal sources of growth.

At the first session Saturday afternoon, the APEC leaders discussed a growth strategy for the Asia-Pacific region, and human security, which includes food security, infectious diseases, counter-terrorism, anti-corruption and disaster preparedness.

In his speech, Hu said to strive for sound and fast economic development of the Asia-Pacific region at a higher level, APEC members should promote balanced growth to create conditions for long-term economic development.

APEC is the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.