SANTIAGO, 22 November 2004 — Pacific Rim leaders wrapped up a two-day summit yesterday united in the war on terror and pledged to push ahead with the World Trade Organization’s negotiations on lowering global trade barriers seen as impediments to the planet’s economic growth.

Leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum endorsed new security measures aimed at fighting terrorism while issuing strong support for WTO talks aimed at liberalizing trade for the 148 WTO member nations.

They pledged to “continue our work with a renewed sense of urgency, in order to achieve a balanced, overall outcome that will meet the high levels of ambition set for these negotiations.”

The WTO talks collapsed last year in a dispute over reducing subsidies offered by rich countries to their farmers. But the negotiations resumed in July, and endorsement by APEC leaders will help preserve the momentum because the members’ economies represent nearly half of the planet’s trade.

The APEC leaders also approved a wide variety of counterterrorism measures aimed at improving commercial flight safety and making sure shipping and food stocks are safe from attacks by terrorists.

“We reaffirmed our determination to advance the prosperity and sustainable growth of our economies and the complementary mission of ensuring the security of our people,” the leaders’ statement said.

The declaration also said member economies would take steps to implement standards and agreements on combating terrorist financing and money laundering.

The leaders promised support for the early entry for APEC member nations Russia and Vietnam into the WTO, urging a prompt conclusion to negotiations.

The declaration also vowed renewed efforts to fight public and private sector corruption.

“Corruption is a serious threat to good governance and deters investment, therefore fighting corruption is essential to the development of our economies,” it said.

APEC started in 1989 as a gathering to boost trade among Pacific Rim nations, but its focus has broadened to include security matters in recent years.

While some have criticized the shift away from purely economic issues, several APEC leaders pointed out that business and security have become inseparable because of increased terrorism around the globe.

The statement noted last year’s work on security issues in Bangkok, Thailand, while reiterating resolve to “collectively confront the threat of terrorism and its disastrous effects on the people and also the economies of the region.”