Brussels, 12/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The 21 member States of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) have provided their support for a new round of trade negotiations on the occasion of the 4th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), scheduled for this autumn. Their Trade Ministers, meeting in Shanghai last week, acknowledged that the meeting in Qatar, from 9 to 13 November "presents a critical opportunity for the expeditious launch of a new round of WTO talks in 2001", and said they were "determined" to ensure the launch of the new round at the Qatar Conference", we read in the final declaration published last Friday. The stance demonstrates "APEC's commitment to open regionalism and (…) a sound and rule-based multilateral trading system, from which all economies, developed and developing ones alike, stand to benefit", the report stresses, report drawn up by the Chinese Minister of Trade, Shi Guangsheng, who chaired the meeting. In the same context, ministers say they are aware of the need to strengthen the technical-commercial capabilities of developing countries and, to that effect, agree to implement a regional strategic plan to help them participate in the WTO more effectively, including is any new round and in implementing existing agreements. "This starting pistol will instill confidence in the multilateral trading system in view of a new round of talks in the WTO", said the Parliamentary Secretary of the International Trade Minister, Patrick O'Brian, who was representing Canada. "Some member economies, just recovering from the Asian financial crisis, expressed worries over the sluggish world economic growth, and the new trend of trade regionalism and bilateralism", as well as "the reemergence of trade protectionism", the Chair stipulated. EUROPE recalls that APEC brings together the countries bordering on the Pacific Ocean, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Russia, the Republic of Korea, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Chile, Singapore, New Zealand, Thailand, etc..