By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has urged the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum to play a stronger role in ensuring global security and overcoming the financial crisis.
The 21-member grouping of the Pacific Rim economies, which includes Russia, the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Australia, will converge on the Peruvian capital Lima for a summit meeting Saturday.
“I am convinced that Apec can and must play an increasing role in the search for stability and prosperity for our shared region,” Medvedev stated in an article published in Latin American media in the run-up to the summit.
“It is the Apec countries, in particular, that will have to largely assume the task of unravelling the world economic crisis. Today, the role of the emerging economies is growing as never before.”
Apec member states account for 60 percent of the world’s economy and around half of the global trade.
Medvedev also pledged Russia’s contribution to regional energy security.
“As one of the largest oil and gas suppliers in the world, Russia will promote the creation of such a system of energy supply in the Asia-Pacific region that would let consumers diversify the geography of imports, as well as ensure reliable and uninterrupted supplies,” the article said.
“We are clearly interested in maintaining stable and predictable hydrocarbon prices based on the real ratio of demand to supply. We stand ready to take part in joint energy-saving projects, and the development of alternative energy sources,” the president wrote.