US pledges Apec support

Charlene Barshefsky (left) stressed US commitment to Apec

Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum (Apec) are gathering for a summit in Brunei where they will try to breathe new life into the group.

Apec represents:

21 member states

Two-thirds of the world's population

60 % of global output

Almost half of world trade

There have been rising doubts about the viability and future of the group, which has become increasingly split after failing to resolve core issues such as trade policy and liberalisation.

There were fears that the departure from office of US President Bill Clinton - a firm Apec supporter - would sound the group's death knell.

I can't imagine how any thinking person could question the relevance of the leaders of over half the world's economy getting together

US trade representative on Apec

But on Tuesday, the US pledged to remain a driving force of Apec, which was established in 1989 to promote free trade around the Pacific Rim.

"The bottom line is the United States will always remain a driver in Apec just as we are a driver in WTO," US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky said.

She noted that Apec would bring together Mr Clinton, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Jiang Zemin and South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.

President Clinton arriving with Chelsea

"I can't imagine how any thinking person could question the relevance of the leaders of over half the world's economy getting together on an annual basis to talk through the great issues of the day," she said.

Ms Barshefsky said Mr Clinton's meetings with the Chinese president at Apec had had "incalculable effects" in building personal trust between the two leaders.

'Digital divide'

Wednesday's summit - which will draw 21 member states in Brunei's capital, Bandar Seri Bagawan - will see an attempt to broaden Apec's agenda.

Malaysia has opposed setting a date for WTO talks

Ways to bridge the "digital divide" between poor and rich countries will be one issue looked at, Mitsuru Taniuchi, chair of Apec's economic committee, said.

He said Apec would look at "improving capacity-building" for economies not prepared to move into the "new economy".

WTO talks

Apec leaders will also attempt to recover the flagging momentum on trade liberalisation.

Apec members

Australia

Brunei

Canada

Chile

China

Hong Kong

Indonesia

Japan

Malaysia

Mexico

New Zealand

Papua New Guinea

Peru

Philippines

Russia

Singapore

South Korea

Taiwan

Thailand

United States

Vietnam

Mr Clinton, has indicated he wants to use Apec to rouse stalled World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks on global free trade.

Ministers have called for a new round of talks, but a key objective - a date for the talks - was not set.

Malaysia, South Korea and others are resisting the move, led by the US, to launch the talks next year.

Meanwhile, senior officials from Mexico and China held separate trade talks on the margins, threatening to steal the show as they moved closer to a deal to enable China to enter the WTO.

Mexico is the only member of the Geneva-based WTO with which China has yet to reach a bilateral trade deal before final accession arrangements.