Foreign and trade ministers from the 21 APEC member economies on Thursday proposed an agenda for the economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region.

"In order to continue to build upon the success that we achieved in 2008, we have proposed a concrete agenda for regional economic integration for 2009 and beyond that will accelerate APEC's efforts in this important and rapidly evolving area," said a joint statement released after the two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting in the Peruvian capital.

The statement said the ministers submitted a progress report to APEC leaders on steps taken this year to strengthen the economic integration.

"We are pleased to report that a significant number of the 53 agreed actions contained in the 2007 report endorsed by leaders in Sydney have been completed, and progress has been made on a large portion of those items still pending," it said.

The agenda presented by the ministers include the Bogor Goals, a possible free trade area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), APEC's structural reform and financial markets in the region.

The Bogor Goals, adopted by APEC leaders at their 1994 meeting in Bogor, Indonesia, specify the APEC objectives for free and open trade and investment among industrialized members by 2010, and among developing members by 2020.

"We reaffirmed our commitment to the Bogor Goals as a key organizing principle and driving force for APEC," the statement said.

The ministers called on APEC member economies to stick to their commitment to free and open trade and investment, so as to promote economic growth in the current difficult economic environment.

"We shared the view that an FTAAP should complement and support the other elements of the Regional Economic Integration Agenda, especially the achievement of the Bogor Goals," said the statement.

The 20th APEC Ministerial Meeting started in Lima Wednesday to make final preparations for the APEC Leaders' Meeting this weekend.

(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2008)