The Apec statement is intended to give momentum to the stalled trade liberalization talks ahead of a WTO ministerial meeting to be held in Hong Kong in December, Jiji Press said late Friday, citing informed sources.

WTO Director General Pascal Lamy is expected to present WTO members with a first draft of "modalities," or key negotiating principles, for opening markets as early as mid-November, Jiji said.

If Apec members, including major WTO players such as Japan and the United States, express support for Lamy's draft, it would help WTO members to move forward with the negotiations, Jiji said.

The WTO-sponsored trade talks have stalled over farm trade, with agricultural product importing and exporting countries divided over proposed maximum tariff rates.