China will send a high-ranking delegation to Peru later this month for discussions on the international financial crisis in the prelude to the APEC Leaders Meeting, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Tuesday.

Qin said Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Trade Minister Chen Deming will jointly head a Chinese delegation at the 20th ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) in Lima.

The ministerial meeting is to be held in this capital city of Peru from November 19 to November 20.

In preparation for the November 22-23 16th APEC Leaders Meeting, the ministerial meeting is expected to focus on such issues as the international financial crisis, regional economic integration, support for multilateral trade systems, economic restructuring, security of the humanity, food and energy security, the social liabilities of business and reform of the APEC forum.

Qin said the 21-member APEC is an important forum for economic cooperation in the region. The APEC forum is aimed to strengthen multilateral trade system and eliminate regional trade barriers. Qin said it is a major force for promoting and facilitating free trade, investment and technological cooperation in the region and advancing regional economic growth.

For the past decade, China has been sending both its foreign minister and trade minister to the ministerial meetings. Top Chinese leaders have been present at previous APEC Leaders Meetings. Chinese President Hu Jintao attended, among others, the 15th APEC Leaders Meeting held in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and the 14th APEC Leaders Meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2006.

(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2008)