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Participants of APEC summit in Peru to discuss trade barriers lifting — Russian official

APEC is "a special structure," where various countries may express their viewpoint on development of the region, Alexey Overchuk underlined

LIMA, November 14. /TASS/. The issue of lifting trade barriers will be discussed at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru, Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk told reporters, adding that the organization’s ambitious goal of organizing a free trade zone in the region persists as well.

"Attention will be traditionally paid to economic development at the meeting, which means that the lifting of trade barriers will obviously be discussed," he said.

APEC is "a special structure," where various countries may express their viewpoint on development of the region, Overchuk noted. "Initially the task was set to create a free trade zone in the region. This is a very ambitious goal, which persists," he added.

Moscow supports the idea and works in that direction, the official said. "However, it should be understood that here we have transferred part of our sovereignty to the level of the Eurasian Economic Union, and when making decisions on development of free trade zones we take coordinated decisions based on a consensus together with the Eurasian five countries," he explained.

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