NZ PM to promote freer market at APEC

WELLINGTON - New Zealand Prime Minister John Key is to push for greater market openness when he attends two major Asia-Pacific regional leaders meetings next month.

Key will join the political leaders from 20 other APEC economies for the APEC Leaders meeting in Bali on October 7-8 to discuss economic integration and trade liberalization, and a range of other political and security topics.

He would also hold bilateral meetings with other political leaders and join talks on the proposed 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement.

Key would go on to attend the East Asia Summit in Brunei on October 9-10 where he would be involved in discussions on a range of political, security and economic topics.

"APEC's focus on regional integration sets a constructive economic agenda in the region while the East Asia Summit brings regional leaders together around a combined economic and security agenda," Key said in a statement Monday.

"Our largest trading partners will be present at these summits. Around 44 percent of global trade now takes place among APEC economies, and 70 percent of New Zealand's total goods trade by value is with APEC economies."