THE 20th summit of Asia-Pacific leaders started on Sunday with a closed-door meeting of senior officials from the 21 Apec members.

The officials have two days to conclude their draft reports before Apec finance, trade and foreign ministers meet on Wednesday and Thursday.

Chairing the sessions of the Senior Officials' Meeting at the Suntec Convention Centre is Mr Ravi Menon, Second Permanent Secretary at Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry.

On Sunday, the senior officials were said to have discussed several items, including how to ensure that economic growth can be more inclusive, by widening access to opportunities to allow everyone to benefit from growth. This will strengthen the consensus for free trade.

They reviewed efforts to help accelerate trade 'at the border' by simplifying documentation and procedures relating to rules of origin and facilitating cross-border services trade.

To improve the business environment in Apec, the officials were to have discussed the proposal to set Apec-wide targets in five priority areas.

Read the full report in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.