Delegates of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies plan to start preparatory meetings prior to the bloc's summit scheduled in Santiago on November. 19-21.

The committees on trade and investments, customs, government procurement, corruption and business mobility will end their eliberation on Oct. 4 and present recommendations to the leaders of APEC members.

The Chilean authorities will also organize a meeting to analyze with foreign delegates the security program for the summit.

Civil police and about 1,500 local military policemen will be in charge of the summit's security. A lot of delegations will also bring here their own security guards.

APEC, which groups China, the United States, Russia, Japan, Australia, Canada, Mexico and 14 other economies, has a total population of 2.5 billion and represents 47 percent of world trade.

The forum is aimed at trade liberalization and the promotion of economic cooperation and investment among the members.

Presidents of the United States, Mexico, Peru, China, Indonesia and Vietnam, as well as prime ministers of Canada, Japan and Australia will attend the summit.

About 5,000 officials will take part in the summit expected to be reported by some 1,000 journalists.

Source: Xinhua