Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Rita Lau will leave for Hokkaido, Japan, today to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade.

It is the first ministerial meeting hosted by Japan as the chair of APEC this year. The theme of APEC 2010 is "Change & Action".

During the two-day meeting on June 5 and 6 in Sapporo, World Trade Organisation Director-General Pascal Lamy will brief trade ministers from APEC member economies on the progress of the Doha Round of negotiations and on WTO efforts to monitor and counter protectionism.

Ministers will discuss how to give impetus to the Doha Development Agenda with the aim to move forward the negotiation process, and exchange views on the international economic and trade environment.

Issues also on the agenda include ways to strengthen regional economic integration and formulation of a growth strategy for the APEC region. Ministers are expected to discuss possible pathways to a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific.

Mrs Lau will return to Hong Kong on Sunday night.