The second session of the 15th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting was held in Sydney September 9, 2007. Chinese President Hu Jintao delivered a speech on the topics including the Doha round of talks and regional economic integration.

On the Doha round of negotiations, Hu noted that a fair, open, equitable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading regime is of vital importance to all countries, developing countries in particular, to rejuvenate their economies. China is committed to establishing a fair, open, equitable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading regime. It is ready to work with other members to play a constructive role and push the Doha round of negotiations toward a comprehensive and balanced outcome at an early date.

Concerning regional economic integration, Hu said that in recent years the Asia-Pacific region has witnessed further development of regional economic integration, with the emergence of various free trade agreements and closer economic and trade links among its members. We should promote regional economic integration at various levels and by various means. He pointed out that the establishment of Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area is a long-term and gradual process as many issues need to be further studied. China is ready to work with other APEC members to continue to push forward regional economic integration in Asia-Pacific and study the prospects of the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area.

On the structural reforms, Hu pointed out that the targets, content and priorities of the reforms vary greatly as the APEC members are at different stages of development. APEC hence should strengthen capacity building and exchange of information in this regard following the principles of self-determination, voluntariness, flexibility and pragmatism. China is at a critical stage of reform and development, with priorities given to the shift of government functions and deepening of reform of the corporate system, financial system, taxation system, the banking system, etc. China will speed up the process of improving its socialist market economy system so as to form the systems and mechanisms beneficial to the shift of economic growth pattern and promotion of sustainable development in an all-round way. China will continue to participate actively in APEC cooperation on structural reforms.

APEC economic leaders pledged their commitments to realizing the Bogor Goals, pushing ahead regional economic integration, properly coping with the challenges and opportunities brought about by the ever deepening globalization, opposing to trade protectionism in whatever form and ensuring the sustained development and common prosperity of all the economies in Asia-Pacific. They would make efforts to consolidate and reinforce the APEC process and enhance its effectiveness in fulfilling the mission of promoting regional economic, trade and technological cooperation.

Following the second session of the meeting, Hu attended the working luncheon held for APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.

In the afternoon he listened to the reading of the Declaration of the 15th Economic Leaders' Meeting of APEC - Strengthening Our Community, Building a Sustainable Future.

The declaration noted that the collective commitment of APEC economic leaders to regional economic integration, to free and open markets and to the security of our people has contributed substantially to the strength of our economies and the significant improvement in the welfare and prosperity of our people. We are confident that the robust economic growth will continue and that we can make further progress in our goal to reduce poverty and increase living standards. We will remain alert and responsive to developments and circumstances that might impact directly on the attainment of our goal. The declaration also introduced the common consensus reached among the economies on climate change, energy security and clean development, the importance of multilateral trading regime, regional economic integration, enhancing human security and strengthening APEC.

The meeting also adopted the statement on the Doha round of WTO negotiations. In the statement APEC Leaders underline the crucial importance of the WTO rules-based global trading system and their determination to bring the Doha Round to an early and successful conclusion.

With that the 15th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting concluded.

The 16th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Lima, capital of Peru, in 2008.