12/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - Roadmap for Asia-Pacific free-trade zone. The summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum leaders in Beijing on Tuesday 11 November delivered a roadmap for the creation of a free-trade area in the Asia Pacific region (FTAAP). “APEC should make more important and meaningful contributions as an incubator to translate the FTAAP from a vision to reality”, reads the APEC leaders' statement. The leaders agreed to launch a “collective strategic study” on issues related to realisation of the FTAAP, the results of which will be reported by the end of 2016. This initiative, eagerly sought by China, would be in competition with the transpacific partnership (TPP) conducted by the United States with ten other countries belonging to the APEC forum, which is made up of 21 nations. (EH)