APEC Peru 2016 eyes quality growth, human development

Quality growth and human development will be the theme of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit to be held here in November, Peruvian President Ollanta Humala said here Friday.

In a speech to launch preparations for the summit, Humala said the meeting aims to help create an APEC free-trade zone, strengthen the food market, improve food safety and modernize micro, small and medium enterprises.

Humala said that although Peru is facing uncertainty due to economic difficulties and decreasing commodity prices, it will maintain a coherent, prudent and solid macro-economic policy to pursue sustained growth.

The next government would fully support the APEC meeting, no matter which party wins the presidential elections in July, said Pedro Cateriano, president of Peru's Council of Ministers.

Since Peru joined APEC in 1998, the group has helped the country forge tighter links with other nations and reach new free-trade agreements, said Magali Silva, minister of foreign trade and tourism.

As the host country of APEC 2016, Peru will hold around 180 meetings, gathering ministers, entrepreneurs and activists to discuss a host of important topics. Endi