Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology John Tsang will depart for Pucon, Chile on Monday evening to attend the Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation to be held on June 4 & 5.

During the meeting, the trade ministers will discuss how APEC can strengthen the multilateral trading system and enhance trade liberalisation and facilitation in the region.

Other topics include:

* ways to support the World Trade Organisation with a view to advancing progress in the Doha Development Agenda negotiations;

* implementation of APEC's security commitments and how they may contribute towards APEC's goals to facilitate trade and strengthen security for member economies; and

* the inclusion of free trade agreements and regional trade arrangements into APEC's agenda.

Ministers will also take stock of APEC's work on trade facilitation.

APEC member economies include Australia, Brunei Darusaalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.