APEC senior official optimistic about consensus

Foreign and Commerce Ministers continued their discussions at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Bangkok on Thursday. Their third session concentrated on open and sustainable trade and investment.

APEC's official mission is to promote regional economic integration, which means setting guidelines for long-term development of a free trade area.

Most of its work is technical and incremental, carried out by senior officials and ministers, covering areas such as trade, tourism, forestry, health, food, security, small and medium-size enterprises and women's empowerment.