APEC holds talks on illegal logging

JAKARTA: Over 90 participants from 21 members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) gathered here on Monday to hold talks on illegal logging.

"The illegal trade of natural resources has disadvantaged the countries who take part and the real core of the issue is about supply and demand," the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hassan Wirayuda, said after opening the seminar.

Hassan said the seminar, which was initiated by Indonesia and was the first held by APEC members on natural resource issues, featured biodiversity experts from the United States, Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

He hoped it could come up with recommendations and policies for APEC members of how to balance development concerns with the preservation of natural resources. -- Antara