UP FOR DEBATE: At the top of the agenda is the state of the global economic recovery and the issue of when stimulus measures should be withdrawn. The officials are also addressing trade and economic protectionism amid growing skepticism in Asia and among some U.S. business leaders that the Obama administration remains committed to free trade.
Foreign exchange is in the spotlight as well, with finance ministers set to call for "flexible prices, including exchange rates and interest rates," according to a draft statement. An APEC delegate told Dow Jones Newswires Tuesday that other government leaders will tell Obama of their concerns over the falling dollar and burgeoning U.S. debt.
Following are the main stories so far:
=2ND UPDATE: APEC MINISTERS' DRAFT URGES FLEXIBLE CURRENCIES
Pacific Rim finance ministers will call for flexible foreign exchange while trying to map out ways to unwind massive economic-support measures as recovery from the global downturn takes hold, according to a draft statement being prepared for a regional summit. (published 0548 GMT)
=INTERVIEW:Thailand Has Bought US$15 Billion To Support Dollar - Min
Thai Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said Wednesday the country's central bank has bought about $15 billion so far this year to support the falling greenback and that the persisting weakness of the Chinese yuan will likely require further intervention by Asian central banks. (published 0509 GMT)
APEC TO TELL OBAMA OF WORRIES OVER DOLLAR, US DEBT - SOURCE
Pacific Rim government leaders will tell U.S. President Barack Obama about globally held concerns over the falling dollar and the burgeoning U.S. debt at a summit this week, a delegate to the meeting said Tuesday. (published 0812 GMT Tuesday)
=2ND UPDATE: WORLD BANK: DOLLAR IS SECURE; US MUST TACKLE DEBT
The U.S. dollar is "relatively secure," but Washington must deal with the huge budget deficits that are piling up, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said Wednesday. (published 0442 GMT)
JAPAN OFFICIAL: DON'T EXPECT APEC TO FOCUS ON CURRENCIES
Pacific Rim leaders likely won't focus on exchange rates during their meetings this week and should leave any discussion of the yuan to talks between China and the U.S., a Japanese government official said Wednesday. (published 0606 GMT)
APEC URGED TO FIGHT PROTECTIONISM; LEAD ON DOHA ROUND
Asia-Pacific economies led by the United States and China opened annual talks Wednesday with calls to fight protectionism or risk reversing the region's "fragile" economic rebound. (published 0747 GMT)
CHINA, US KEEN TO AVOID TRADE WAR - US OFFICIAL
The United States and China will work to keep their latest tit-for-tat trade spats from escalating into an all-out war, a top U.S. official said Tuesday, just days before a visit by President Barack Obama. (published 0919 GMT Tuesday)
=WSJ: USTR WANTS ASIA TO 'PLAY BY RULES' WITH TRADE PACTS
The U.S. remains committed to expanding trade in Asia but will insist that China and other countries "play by the rules" as it contemplates future trade agreements, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said Tuesday. (published 2033 GMT Tuesday)
GEITHNER: DEEPLY BELIEVE STRONG DOLLAR VERY IMPORTANT FOR US
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Wednesday that he believes maintaining a strong dollar is "very important" for the country's economy. (published 0351 GMT)
SINGAPORE MINISTER: ASIAN RECOVERY DUE TO ACTIONS ACROSS GLOBE
Singapore Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said Wednesday that the recovery in the Asian economies was mainly due to policy actions initiated across the globe, and that the current recovery won't bring the Asian economies to levels seen before the crisis. (published 0151 GMT)
ASIA PACIFIC COUNTRIES MUST PROMOTE 'OPEN FOOD SYSTEM' -COUNCIL
Governments in the Asia Pacific region need to do more to protect the poor from high food prices and promote the advantages of an "open food system," the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council said Wednesday. (published 0200 GMT)
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