WHEN leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) grouping meet next week, they will discuss how to foster growth in the region over the long term, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday.

'We'll be focusing on the long-term issues as we emerge from the recession,' said PM Lee at a media briefing ahead of the Apec Leaders' Week meetings from Nov 8 to 15, which are being hosted by Singapore for the first time.

Specifically, the focus will be on promoting balanced, inclusive and sustainable growth in the region, he added.

Apec, which counts among its members the United States, China, Japan and Russia, is the only economic grouping that straddles both sides of the Pacific and involves the US in Asia-Pacific affairs, Mr Lee said.

'We believe America plays an indispensable role in Asia, in many fields: economic, political, strategic, security. And that is one of the reasons why Apec is an important forum.'

PM Lee also said he expects the economy to continue to stabilise, but a dramatic recovery is not on the cards.