(VOVworld) – The third Senior Officials Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2014 opened in Beijing Wednesday.

Delegates take photo at the second senior officials' meeting in May. (Photo: VNA)

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi said this is the final meeting before the APEC Summit in November. He said APEC members have agreed to form an Asia-Pacific free trade area (FTA), create a roadmap to realise the agreement, and establish an FTA information sharing mechanism. Participants discussed ways to boost innovative development, economic reform, and growth. They also talked about ways to increase dialogues, experience sharing, and cooperation in five key areas, including economics reform and urbanization.