APEC economies to promote regional "paperless trading"

The 21 economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) will promote paperless trading by holding a seminar at the beginning of September.

During a press briefing held by the Ministry of Commerce Monday, Liu Junsheng, chairman of the APEC E-commerce Business Alliance and director of China's International E-commerce Business Center, said the four topics to be discussed are environmental construction of E-commerce, trade facility, clear customs operation and modern logistics as well as financial services and companies' implementation.

At the 3-day seminar, government officials, business leaders and specialists from the 21 APEC economies will discuss possible difficulties facing each economy during the process of conducting paperless trading.

To promote trade facility, they will also put forward guiding principles for its development.

APEC has been engaged in promoting regional e-commerce development since 1997. A blueprint was passed at its ministerial-level meeting in 1998, setting the goals for developed member economies to realize paperless trading by 2005 and for developing members by 2010.

In addition to the 21 APEC members, countries like the UK and France, and international organizations such as the World Bank, will also attend this seminar.

Source: Xinhua